Trump Administration Challenges California’s Truck Emission Standards

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is seeking to halt costly trucking emission standards that California aims to enforce for many vehicles entering the state.

California, however, insists that it will not pause its national green energy initiatives introduced by Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed its final disapproval of California’s Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance Regulation, which affects over 50,000 trucks coming from outside the state or outside the country, according to local data.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated, “If California had its way, prices would skyrocket for truckers and businesses across America. Affordable trucks are essential for keeping food and goods moving at reasonable prices for families.”

Despite this disapproval, the Newsom administration will still be able to implement the regulation on heavy-duty trucks registered in California, which includes non-gasoline combustion vehicles weighing more than 14,000 pounds.

In response, California Air Resources Board spokesperson Lindsay Buckley claimed, “Today’s announcement is mostly just rhetoric about accounting. The EPA does not have authority over this program, and we will continue to enforce the law to ensure all trucks in California follow the same rules, regardless of EPA’s stance.”

Governor Newsom, who signed a bill in 2019 to establish the program aimed at reducing heavy-duty truck emissions, has called for “bold action” against emissions from trucks, emphasizing their significant contribution to air pollutants. “CA will once again lead the way — phasing out diesel trucks,” he mentioned in a March 2023 post on X, highlighting environmental impacts and public health concerns.

However, EPA officials argued that the proposed regulations would have been unconstitutional, as they could interfere with interstate and international commerce, violating the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The agency observed that the emissions regulations misapplied provisions of the Clean Air Act of 1970, which mandates states to provide assurance that their regulations comply with federal laws.