President has Trump signed into law three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions disapproving California’s vehicle emission waivers. Congressional disapproval of California’s electric vehicle (EV) mandates is another step toward ending the EV mandate.

In February, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced alongside President Trump and the newly created National Energy Dominance Council, that the EPA would transmit to Congress three waiver rules granted by the Biden EPA—California’s Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and Heavy-Duty Engine Omnibus NOx in order to comply with the agency’s duties under the CRA.

In March, Administrator Zeldin announced the agency will be kicking off a formal reconsideration of the 2009 Endangerment Finding in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other relevant agencies. EPA also intends to reconsider all of its prior regulations and actions that rely on the Endangerment Finding. (Earlier post.)

In response to the disapproving of the enabling vehicle emissions waivers, California is leading a coalition of 10 state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the federal government challenging the use of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to upend California’s clean vehicles program, specifically the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII), Omnibus, and Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) standards.

Further, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order doubling down on the state’s efforts to transition away from fossil fuels.

With this executive order, California will begin work on the next phase of the state’s clean vehicles program, the development of Advanced Clean Cars III regulation to advance new strategies for emissions reduction. The executive order also:

• Updates state purchasing requirements to align with manufacturers that continue complying with clean car regulations

• Prioritizes funding for state incentive programs for clean manufacturers and fleets

• Continues Clean Truck Partnership work and requires reports on progress every six months

• Directs state agencies to assess additional actions for ZEV adoption and issue recommendations within 60 days, including strategies for consumer protection, infrastructure, voluntary efforts, and local partnerships