The Donald Trump administration has sued the state of California, led by Governor Gavin Newsom (D), over the latter’s emissions goals.
State Specific Mileage Requirements
In an official statement, the Department of Transportation (DOT) said the administration was suing the California government for “imposing an illegal electric vehicle (EV) mandate” on the automotive industry.
The agency added that the government was doing so by enacting “state-specific mileage requirements,” adding that Federal law prohibited individual states from adopting emissions norms.
“I was proud to stand alongside President Trump to unveil our plan to eliminate the Biden-Buttigieg EV mandate,” Duffy said in the statement, adding that Newsom was “determined” to the “Democrat’s radical EV fantasy.”
He also took to the social media platform X on Thursday to slam Newsom. “The Trump Administration WILL hold California accountable for OUTRAGEOUS attempts to push an ILLEGAL EV mandate onto Americans,” he said, quoting a post from the Department of Justice. He added that the administration will “deliver” on the promise of affordable cars to Americans.
Department Of Justice, NHTSA Criticize California
Meanwhile, the DOJ, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, also criticized the California government. “Oppressive, expensive electric vehicle mandates drive up costs for American consumers and violate federal law,” she said in the statement released by the department on Thursday.
On the other hand, NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison also hailed the lawsuit. “This litigation will help automakers design and produce cars and trucks to meet one federal fuel economy regulation,” he said, adding that the previous Barack Obama and Joe Biden administrations were mistaken to “enable California to set its own backdoor fuel economy policies.”
California’s EV Push
Trump’s Anti-EV Stance
Iran War Leads To Gas Price Surge
However, gasoline prices in the U.S. have risen. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) slammed the conflict in Iran, adding that the war would hit Americans hard at the pump.
Check out more of Benzinga’s Future Of Mobility coverage by following this link.
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