California Sues to Stop Trump From Weakening Fuel Economy Rules

California and about two dozen other states sued the Trump administration on Friday to block new rules that would lower how fuel-efficient new cars and trucks must be. The states argue that the rules are illegal because they set mileage goals lower than what the law requires. This is the 97th time California has sued the Trump administration in roughly a year and a half.

The federal Transportation Department announced this week that it would cut back fuel efficiency rules for new cars and light trucks. These rules had been set by the Biden administration to reduce gasoline use and push car companies toward electric vehicles. The Trump administration's new standard requires automakers to reach an average of 34.9 miles per gallon by the 2031 model year — far below the 50.4 miles per gallon that the Biden administration had set.

The states filed their lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. They argue that federal law requires fuel efficiency standards to be set at the 'maximum feasible' level, meaning the highest level that is reasonably possible. The states say the new rules are actually lower than what many automakers have already achieved on their own.

California's Attorney General Rob Bonta spoke to reporters about why the lawsuit matters right now. He pointed out that gas prices have risen more than 30 percent this year, partly because of tensions involving Iran. 'The benefits of helping Americans drive on less gas should be obvious by now,' Bonta said.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended the new rules in a statement. He said the Biden-era standards had 'illegally twisted mileage standards to create an electric vehicle mandate,' which he claimed raised car prices and forced companies to make vehicles people didn't want. He added that the Trump administration wants to keep cars affordable for American families.

The Trump administration's own study estimated that its rules would lower car prices by about $1,289 by the 2031 model year. However, the same study found that drivers would end up spending $1,624 more on gasoline over time compared to what they would have paid under the Biden rules. That means drivers could end up paying more overall, even if the car itself costs less up front.

Many automakers had actually opposed the Biden-era rules, saying the push toward electric vehicles was happening too quickly. Industry groups have also complained that mileage standards keep changing depending on who is president. 'What the industry needs is long-term regulatory stability,' said John Bozzella, the head of a major auto industry lobbying group.

Congress first created fuel mileage rules in 1975 after Middle Eastern countries stopped selling oil to the United States. Since then, cars have steadily gotten better at using fuel efficiently, and electric and hybrid vehicles have become more common. Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gases in the United States, which is why these rules are considered so important in the fight against climate change.

California has a long history of setting stricter pollution rules than the federal government. A 1970 law called the Clean Air Act gave California the right to do this, as long as it gets permission from the Environmental Protection Agency. Under Presidents Obama and Biden, California received those permissions — called waivers — to set tighter limits on pollution from cars, trucks, ships, and even lawn mowers.

President Trump and Republican lawmakers have tried to take away many of California's waivers using a law called the Congressional Review Act. Last year, Congress blocked California's plan to phase out the sale of gasoline-powered cars by 2035. California has fought back by challenging these moves in court, adding them to its long list of lawsuits against the Trump administration.