A coalition of 11 U.S. states led by California filed a lawsuit on Thursday challenging the repeal of federal waivers that allowed the state to enforce its ambitious electric vehicle (EV) and emissions regulations, including a planned 2035 ban on new gasoline-only vehicle sales.
The lawsuit comes in response to former President Donald Trump’s signing of three congressional resolutions that nullify the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) prior approvals under the Biden administration. The repeals target California’s zero-emission vehicle mandates and diesel engine restrictions.
“We officially rescue the U.S. auto industry from destruction by terminating the California electric vehicle mandate once and for all,” Trump said during the signing.
California Governor Gavin Newsom denounced the move, calling it “Trump’s all-out assault on California.” He added, “This time he’s destroying our clean air and America’s global competitiveness in the process.”
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for Northern California, asserts that the repeal is unlawful and violates administrative procedure. “The Federal Government carried out an illegal playbook designed to evade lawful procedures that might prevent the ‘take down’ of disfavored California laws,” the filing states.
The plaintiff states include New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Washington. The named defendants are Trump, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and the EPA itself.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing major automakers including General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Stellantis, welcomed the repeals. “Trump got behind this repeal before the EV mandates did real damage to the auto industry in America,” said Alliance CEO John Bozzella, adding that the move restores “a degree of balance to U.S. emissions regulations.”
The EPA dismissed the lawsuit as meritless. “This is nothing more than California throwing a temper tantrum because the American people don’t want the state’s terrible policies,” said agency spokeswoman Molly Vaseliou.