U.S. Senate blocks California electric vehicle mandate

The United States Senate voted 51-45 on Thursday to block California’s mandate the phaseout of gas-powered cars. The resolution nullified a Biden-era Environmental Protection Agency waiver that allowed California to require automakers to steadily increase production and sales of electric vehicles, leading to an eventual ban of new gas-powered cars by 2035. The House previously passed the resolution rejecting the mandate, 231-191.

Under the waiver, the state also required shuttle companies operating at 13 of its biggest airports to gradually increase the number of electric vehicles in their fleets.

How did California officials respond? State Attorney General Rob Bonta said Thursday that he is suing the Trump administration, alleging unlawful use of the Congressional Review Act to upend California regulations. That law has never been used to nullify a waiver before, Bonta said. He characterized the move as politically motivated overreach, and said it threatened Californians’ lives and livelihoods.

Standing behind a sign that read “Trump’s GOP is making America smoggy again,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday that the lawsuit is his state’s 23rd case against the Trump administration. Newsom characterized the vote as a decision to cause more pollution and said it handed China a win in the electric vehicle market.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s report on the House passage of the GOP budget bill, which is headed to the Senate.