President Donald Trump signed a congressional resolution Thursday that blocks California’s ban on new sale of gas-powered cars by 2035. The state is expected to challenge the resolution in court as tension between Governor Gavin Newsom and the president continue to rise over the management of L.A. anti-ICE riots.
“We officially rescue the U.S. auto industry from destruction by terminating California Electric Vehicle Mandate once and for all,” Trump said in his wide-ranging remarks before signing the resolution in the Oval Office.
Approved by Congress last month, the resolution aims to put the kibosh on California’s attempt to phase out gas-powered cars. The Congressional Review Act resolutions signed by the president also rolled back California’s authority to enforce zero-emission sales targets for commercial trucks and higher standards for heavy-duty diesel engines. Rescinding the vehicle emissions standards delivers on Trump’s day one executive order to roll back electric vehicle mandates around the country.
“Under the previous administration the federal government gave left wing radicals in California dictatorial powers to control the future of the entire car industry all over the country,” Trump said. “They approved Governor Gavin Newscum’s ridiculous plan to impose a 100 percent ban on all gas-powered cars within a very short period of time.”
EPA Administrator Lee Seldin asked Congress to revoke California’s rules using the Congressional Review Act, which gives congress — with presidential approval — the ability to rescind recently passed regulations using a simple majority. Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, however, has said the California rules are not subject to the Congressional Review Act because the approval of the gas car phaseout was issued via waiver rather than federal rule.
Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta said last month they would sue after Trump signs the resolutions. The fight is now expected to head to the courts.
“We want to make sure our future generations have clean air to breathe, and a livable planet,” Bonta said at a press conference in May. “Meanwhile, the president’s focus on red team versus blue team is threatening California’s lives, our economy and our environment.”
The decision comes as tensions build between the president and Newsom regarding Trump’s handling of the L.A. anti-ICE riots, which began over the weekend. The president deployed National Guard troops to the state without the approval of the governor, who subsequently sued Trump and the Department of Defense for the move.