Trump Blocks California Emissions Rules, Ending Federal EV Waivers

President Donald Trump signed three resolutions on June 12 revoking California’s authority to
enforce stricter emissions standards and its future ban on gas-powered vehicles.

Under the Congressional Review Act, the resolutions—H.J. Res. 87, 88, and 89—nullify Biden-
era Environmental Protection Agency waivers that allowed California to implement its Advanced
Clean Trucks (ACT) rule and low-NOx Omnibus rule for heavy-duty trucks. The ACT rule would
have required 75% of Class 8 trucks sold in the state to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035.
Another resolution blocked California’s low-nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions rule, which aimed to
cut NOx emissions by 90% and update testing procedures for heavy-duty engines.

“Under the Congressional Review Act, the EPA cannot approve any future waivers that are
‘substantially the same’ as those disapproved in the joint resolutions,” Trump said in a
statement.

“The joint resolutions prohibit the EPA from approving future waivers for California that would
impose the state’s policy goals across the entire country and violate fundamental constitutional
principles of federalism, ending the electric vehicle mandate for good.”

While trucking industry leaders praised Trump’s move, California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the
federal action illegal and vowed to challenge it in court.

“We won’t let this illegal action by Trump and Republicans in the pockets of polluters stand in
the way of commonsense policy to clean our air, protect the health of our kids, and compete on
the global stage,” Newsom said. “I’m signing an executive order to keep California on track with
our world-leading transition to cleaner cars.”

Newsom’s executive order directs state agencies to continue regulating zero-emission vehicle
policies, including the implementation of the ACT rule.