California races to protect clean air rules after Trump rolls back emission waivers
California officials are preparing new strategies to curb vehicle pollution after President Donald Trump revoked the state’s authority to set stricter emission standards, a move that also eliminates its planned phaseout of gas-powered cars by 2035.
Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder reports for U.S. News & World Report.
In short:
- The Trump administration and Congress repealed three major waivers under the Clean Air Act that allowed California to set tougher vehicle and truck emission standards than what was required under federal law.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered agencies to develop new actions to promote affordable zero-emission vehicles without relying on federal approval.
- Experts warn the policy shift could slow U.S. electric vehicle growth, ceding market leadership to China, and worsen air pollution in California, which has some of the nation’s worst air quality.
Key quote:
“The governor and the legislature should understand that their people need to breathe clean air, and that auto pollution is the worst contributor to the polluted air in California.”
— Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Transport Campaign at the Center for Biological Diversity
Why this matters:
Air pollution remains one of the most persistent environmental health threats in the United States, contributing to asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, and premature deaths. California’s geography and heavy traffic make it particularly vulnerable, trapping pollutants in valleys and urban basins. Vehicle emissions are a leading source of smog-forming chemicals and fine particles, which disproportionately harm low-income communities located near highways and freight corridors. Rolling back state-level emission standards could prolong exposure to these pollutants, increasing the public health burden and straining healthcare systems. The stakes extend beyond California, as its clean vehicle policies have historically set the pace for national standards and influenced global markets.
Related: California scrambles for new strategies as Trump administration blocks clean air rules
