Gavin Newsom Defies Trump With Groundbreaking Pollution Program
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California Governor Gavin Newsom has responded to President Donald Trump's rollback of climate protections by unveiling a "first-of-its-kind" pollution monitoring program.
The state is launching its Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative (SMMI), which will use specially equipped vehicles to collect block-by-block air quality data in 64 communities that face heavy pollution. The results will help officials create solutions to improve air quality and public health.
"While the federal government threatens to take us back to the days of smoggy skies and clogged lungs, California continues to lead the way. We're deploying first-of-their-kind vehicles to monitor pollution levels at a block-by-block level, delivering critical air quality information to communities across the state," Newsom said in a statement on Tuesday.
Why It Matters
The unveiling of the SMMI comes amid sweeping federal actions targeting state-level environmental rules, including efforts to block California's authority to set vehicle emission standards and the rollback of clean air waivers.
What To Know
The project, spearheaded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), will deploy sensor-equipped vehicles supplied by Aclima, along with mobile labs managed by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Riverside, and Aerodyne.
The researchers will collect data from 64 communities statewide, with 60 percent of the monitoring focused on priority populations, including low-income communities and those facing disproportionate pollution.
More than 40 community-based organizations across the state have partnered with CARB to identify local air quality concerns and ensure community voices shape the monitoring efforts.
California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at a rally in San Francisco on June 7, 2024.
California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at a rally in San Francisco on June 7, 2024.
Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle/AP
Over the past five decades, California's clean air initiatives have reduced diesel-related cancer risks by nearly 80 percent and saved $250 billion in health care costs, according to a press release from the governor's office.
Trump's second term has seen more than 150 actions weakening environmental standards, with particular focus on California's authority to regulate pollution, set clean vehicle standards, and operate its cap-and-trade system, according to the Los Angeles Times.
During his first term, Trump took significant steps to limit California's authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards, a power granted under the Clean Air Act since 1970.
On September 18, 2019, the Trump administration announced the revocation of California's waiver, which allowed the state to enforce stricter greenhouse gas emissions and zero-emission vehicle mandates than federal standards. This move marked the first time such a waiver had been rescinded.
The administration justified the revocation by asserting the need for a unified national standard to reduce vehicle costs and improve safety. However, critics argued that the action undermined states' rights and environmental protections. California, joined by 23 other states and several cities, filed lawsuits challenging the decision, leading to a prolonged legal battle.
In March 2022, under the administration of former President Joe Biden, the Environmental Protection Agency reinstated California's waiver, restoring the state's authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards.
As of June 2025, the Trump administration is reportedly considering new actions to revoke California's authority to enforce its stringent emissions standards, including the state's plan to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. Such efforts are expected to face legal challenges.
What People Are Saying
Dr. Steven Cliff, executive director of the California Air Resources Board, in a statement on Tuesday: "By meeting communities where they are and listening to their concerns, we're building an air quality monitoring system that integrates the lived experiences of the people most impacted by air pollution.
"The Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative represents an unprecedented opportunity to gather the detailed information we need to better protect public health in neighborhoods that have historically borne the brunt of environmental injustice."
What Happens Next
The SMMI will continue to collect air quality data through June 2026, after which the collected data will be made available to the public.
CARB, local air districts, stakeholders, and the local community will then use the data to help guide efforts in addressing pollution concerns.
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