smokestack and a ship emitting air pollution

Trump’s return may derail California clean air rules

A Trump victory has put key California clean air regulations at risk, including a ban on new gasoline car sales by 2035, as the state awaits U.S. Environmental Protection Agency waivers that the Biden administration hasn’t approved.

Tony Briscoe reports for Los Angeles Times.

In short:

California’s clean air rules, including bans on new gas-powered cars and diesel trucks at ports, await EPA waivers that may be rejected by Trump’s administration.
Many regulations, such as the ban on gas-powered yard equipment, are estimated to prevent thousands of premature deaths and save billions in health costs.
Uncertainty around EPA waivers has led businesses to delay compliance efforts, waiting for regulatory clarity.

Key quote:

“Everyone deserves clean air and everyone deserves the benefits that these programs will deliver.”

— Will Barrett, American Lung Association

Why this matters:

California’s clean air initiatives aim to significantly cut emissions, improving public health and reducing pollution. A federal block could delay these benefits, impacting other states that rely on California’s environmental standards for stricter air quality policies.

www.latimes.com

Smoke billows from an industrial chimney at sunset near several homes.

Credit: Tanner Messenger/Unsplash

Judge rules EPA overstepped in cutting pollution grants

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from canceling $600 million in environmental justice grants aimed at helping underserved communities reduce pollution.

Rachel Frazin reports forThe Hill.

In short:

The grants stem from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which set aside $3 billion for environmental justice programs.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Biden had planned to distribute the $600 million through regional groups, which would fund local efforts, before the Trump EPA terminated the grants earlier this year.
Judge Adam Abelson ruled the EPA's cancellation exceeded its authority “precisely because they are ‘environmental justice’ programs."

Key quote:
The move included a “lack of any reasoned decision-making, or reasoned explanation.”

— Judge Adam Abelson, U.S. District Court

Why this matters:
Underserved communities often face the greatest environmental health risks and climate impacts. These grants were designed to help local groups respond to long-standing environmental harms and health risks, and canceling them would have cut off vital support just as cleanup efforts were beginning to gain traction. The Trump administration has also attempted to cancel a similar $20 billion program that would fund climate-friendly projects.

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www.ehn.org

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