President Donald Trump has signed into law three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions nullifying certain federal and state-level vehicle emissions standards finalized under the Biden administration. In response, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has vowed to mount a vigorous legal challenge against what he calls unlawful federal overreach targeting California’s authority to enforce its clean vehicle programs.
The resolutions include:
- H.J. Res. 87 rescinds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s waiver that allowed California to enforce its Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule and other stricter vehicle emissions programs.
- H.J. Res. 88 revokes federal light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas standards for model years 2027–2032.
- H.J. Res. 89 repeals the EPA’s Phase 3 heavy-duty truck GHG emissions rules finalized in 2024.
These resolutions were fast-tracked through the CRA process, which enables Congress to overturn recently finalized rules and bars similar regulations from being reissued without legislative approval.
In a statement from the White House, President Trump called the rules an “attempt to impose a nationwide electric vehicle mandate and to regulate national fuel economy by regulating carbon emissions.”
“Preemption of these programs is essential to preserving the Constitution’s allocation of power both among the States and between the States and the Federal Government,” said President Trump in the statement. “It is the Federal Government, not States, that should establish vehicle emissions standards given the inherently interstate nature of air quality; a patchwork of State vehicle regulations on this subject is unworkable.”
Republican lawmakers and some industry groups applauded the move as a necessary correction to what they view as unrealistic and costly climate regulations.
Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said the emissions rules would have placed an undue burden on working Americans and small businesses.
“The impact of California’s waiver would have been felt across the country, harming multiple sectors of our economy and costing hundreds of thousands of jobs in the process. I’m proud to have led this effort to protect American workers and consumers from this radical and drastic policy,” Capito said in a statement from late May.
The American Trucking Associations thanked President Trump, with ATA President and CEO Chris Spear in attendance at the White House signing ceremony.
“Today, common sense prevailed. We thank President Trump, EPA Administrator Zeldin, and congressional leadership for taking decisive action to end crippling, detached-from-reality rulemakings that would have imposed devastating economic consequences on American businesses and families,” said Spear in a statement. “With the stroke of his pen, President Trump is restoring the certainty that the trucking industry needs to deliver for our nation as we continue to reduce our environmental impact.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has strongly condemned the federal action, pledging to vigorously defend the state’s authority and its clean vehicle programs.
“California will not waver in defending itself against unlawful federal overreach that threatens public health and the environment,” said Bonta in a press release issued shortly after the resolutions were signed. “Our state’s climate policies protect our communities, reduce harmful pollution, and drive innovation in clean transportation.”
Bonta’s office announced plans to file lawsuits challenging the CRA resolutions, arguing that the federal government lacks authority to strip California’s Clean Air Act waiver and stated he would pursue all legal options to uphold its right to protect California’s air quality and combat climate change.
