Trump Moves to Cancel California’s EPA Waivers

President Donald Trump took action on Thursday to eliminate California’s EPA waivers by signing several joint resolutions, effectively rolling back the state’s stringent regulations on vehicle and truck emissions.

Through the signing of these joint resolutions under the Congressional Review Act, Trump has reversed the Biden administration’s endorsement of California’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule. This regulation mandated that 75% of Class 8 trucks sold in California must be zero-emissions vehicles by 2035.

Another resolution halts the enforcement of California’s low-nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions rule for heavy-duty trucks, as stated by the president. This rule was designed to minimize emissions from truck manufacturers by aiming for a 90% reduction in heavy-duty NOx emissions and revamping engine testing processes.

The Trump administration has criticized the environmental policies of his predecessor as excessive and unwarranted. Trump highlighted that the congressional actions he signed would prevent California from adopting similar regulations in the future.

“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 explained. He emphasized that these resolutions prevent the EPA from endorsing California’s emission goals nationwide, upholding essential constitutional principles of federalism and effectively terminating the electric vehicle mandate.

In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom labeled the federal actions as illegal and announced plans to sue the federal government to uphold the state’s zero-emission vehicle policy. On the same day, Newsom signed an executive order aimed at ensuring that all new vehicle sales must be zero-emission by 2035 for cars, pickup trucks, and drayage trucks, and by 2045 for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

Industry leaders from the trucking sector praised Trump’s recent measures. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) welcomed the news as a significant win for truck drivers. OOIDA President Todd Spencer noted, “Our 150,000 small-business members have always said that electric trucks are simply not a feasible option right now due to high costs and inadequate charging infrastructure.” He expressed gratitude for the changes that bring relief to the trucking community.