Trump blocks California rules for greener vehicles and gas-powered car ban

[groundloop]

Source: The Guardian

Donald Trump has blocked California’s first-in-the-nation rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, signing a resolution on Thursday to stymie the state’s ambitious attempt to tackle the climate crisis by pivoting to greener vehicles.

The state quickly announced it was challenging the move in court, with California’s attorney general holding a news conference to discuss the lawsuit before Trump’s signing ceremony ended at the White House.

The resolution was approved by Congress last month and aims to quash the country’s most aggressive attempt to phase out gas-powered cars. Trump also signed measures to overturn state policies curbing tailpipe emissions in certain vehicles and smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution from trucks.

California has some of the worst smog and air quality issues in the nation, and has for decades been able to seek waivers from the Environmental Protection Agency that have allowed the state to adopt stricter emissions standards than the federal government.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/12/trump-california-gas-car-ban

[sinkingfeeling]

1. TSF has no right to order anything. And resolutions aren't laws.

[jgmiller]

2. The admin likes finding ways around laws and so can CA

Assuming the lawsuit fails the federal government has no authority to set vehicle registration fees. If we really want to stop the sales of gas powered cars there's a pretty easy way around the feds. Just pass a law in CA to charge a $5,000 fee for every new gas car that is purchased starting in 2035 or whatever year they want. This works for other things too, you can easily apply fees to just about anything you want to effectively block as a state. Sure the rich will still be able to pay the fee but so what let them.

[groundloop]

3. Good point. The idiot red state where I live charges extra fees for electric vehicles & plug-in hybrids.

[mwooldri]

5. Not totally idiotic idea though.

But should be made more even IMO. If it were up to me, I'd abolish the federal gas tax and replace it with a mileage tax, rate based on vehicle type. The roads need to be maintained and fixed and we need the revenue for that. Plus the federal gas tax revenue is declining... People moving to EVs and other alternative fuel vehicles don't pay the gas tax. So I'm okay in part with an EV tax... But I'd rather there be a fair way for all vehicles to pay based on road usage. One system for EVs and another for ICE doesn't seem fair to me.

But to the original OP... States do have their ways to encourage or discourage certain activities. And states have ways to do this that's reserved for the states to do.

[LauraInLA]

6. I agree with the idea of the taxes paying for roads. The problem with a mileage tax, at least here in SoCal,

is that it would be extremely regressive, since many working class people cannot afford to live in cities and have to commute long distances to work.

[mwooldri]

10. Gas tax is already regressive.

Poorer people can't afford the super fuel efficient vehicles. So have to buy more fuel per mile travelled.

An after-the-fact mileage tax can at least mitigate some of this by giving tax breaks, something not as easily done with the gas tax.

If done smart it can be done right. But your point of regressive taxes is accurate.

[mwooldri]

4. Or a sales tax.

There's probably already a sales tax on vehicles anyway. Increase it to XXX for certain vehicles.

[MichMan]

11. I would just buy a barely used car and not pay the fee

[LauraInLA]

7. I need to read up on this -- are the Feds arguing that this is an interstate commerce violation or something? How do they

control this?

[kimbutgar]

8. He'll be long dead before this law comes in effect

so STFU orange taco 🌮 Hitler !

[Initech]

9. Fuck his stupid orders and decrees!

We live in a democracy, not a serfdom where a king decrees things. WTF.

[Magoo48]

14. This is the California Republic. Time to toss out all the Nazi politicians.

Time to begin sending all federal taxes to Sacramento.
FAUX KING? NO FAUX KING WAY.

[Initech]

15. Kristi Noem, Tom Homan and their ICE goons should be permanently banned from California.

[Magoo48]

16. I'm all for that. Get everyone together; let's take a vote.

[Dem2theMax]

12. Every time I drive my EV, I feel like it's a middle finger to Orange Mussolini.

And the fact that I'm in California makes it even better.

[mdbl]

13. So much for states' rights.

oh wait, I forgot. That only applies when trying to defend bigotry and slavery.