California is currently embroiled in significant legal battles over its electric vehicle (EV) mandates, facing multiple lawsuits challenging the state’s authority to enforce strict emissions and EV regulations. These lawsuits primarily stem from disputes over whether California can impose aggressive EV and emissions standards, especially for heavy-duty trucks, in light of federal actions that have revoked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waivers that previously allowed California to set its own stricter rules.
The core of the conflict lies in California’s California Air Resources Board (CARB) implementing stringent emissions standards and EV mandates aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting electric vehicle adoption. These standards have been more ambitious than federal regulations and have often served as a model for other states. However, the federal government, particularly under the influence of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and actions taken by Congress and former President Donald Trump, has challenged California’s authority to enforce these mandates.
In mid-2025, the DOJ filed lawsuits against California, accusing CARB of unlawfully enforcing emissions regulations for heavy-duty trucks through a program called the Clean Truck Partnership. The DOJ argues that the Clean Air Act preempts California’s ability to enforce these rules because Congress revoked the EPA waivers that had authorized California’s stricter standards. The DOJ describes California’s efforts as an unlawful attempt to ban internal combustion engines in heavy-duty trucks, which federal law prohibits states from doing without EPA approval. This legal challenge is part of a broader federal campaign to roll back EV mandates and preserve consumer choice in the automotive market.
Simultaneously, California and a coalition of allied states have responded by filing lawsuits against the federal government, arguing that the revocation of the EPA waivers was improper and that California retains unique authority to protect air quality and combat climate change. These states contend that the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions used to nullify the waivers were misapplied because EPA waiver authorizations are adjudicatory orders, not rules subject to CRA disapproval. They also argue that the rescissions violate administrative law and exceed Congress’s authority.
Adding complexity, several major truck manufacturers have filed lawsuits seeking to dissolve their voluntary Clean Truck Partnership with California, citing the waiver revocations and the resulting legal uncertainty. The DOJ has intervened in these cases to support the enforcement of the rescissions.
The legal battles are intense and multifaceted, involving questions about federal versus state power, the interpretation of the Clean Air Act, and the limits of the Congressional Review Act. The disputes are expected to continue through
