Trump Blocks California's 2035 Gas Car Ban, Legal Fight Begins

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California has regulated its own vehicle emissions since the 1960s under special authority granted by the Clean Air Act - now that power is under threat.

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Trump called California's clean car rules "crazy" and claimed his action "rescues the U.S. auto industry from destruction" - automakers had mixed reactions.

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The blocked rules would have phased out sales of new gas-powered cars, required zero-emission truck sales, and limited pollution from heavy-duty vehicles.

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Legal experts say Congress may have overstepped by using the Congressional Review Act.

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Governor Newsom immediately announced California would sue the federal government, calling it an "all-out assault" and signing an executive order for new "Advanced Clean Cars III" regulations

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About a dozen states follow California's stricter emissions standards, representing roughly one-third of the U.S. auto market - this decision affects them all.

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The Alliance for Automotive Innovation praised Trump's move, saying "EV sales mandates were never achievable" - but environmental groups called it "a flagrant abuse of the law."

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This isn't Trump's first clash with California over emissions - he revoked their authority during his first term, but Biden restored it in 2022.

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The lawsuit will likely reach the Supreme Court with huge implications for states' rights to set their own environmental rules. Who will win this power struggle?

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