California Sues EPA Over Emissions Waiver Reclassification

California and a coalition of 10 other states filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on June 23, 2026, challenging a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The legal action contests the EPA's reclassification of four Clean Air Act preemption waivers—including greenhouse gas emission standards and a ban on gas-powered garden equipment—from orders to rules.

Rob Bonta, the California Attorney General, argues that this reclassification is an illegal attempt to subject state-level waivers to expedited disapproval via the Congressional Review Act, which the state contends applies only to federal agencies. Bonta claims the move threatens air quality and public health while creating market uncertainty.

Earlier on June 12, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin reclassified the waivers following requests from industry groups. The EPA maintains that it is fulfilling a statutory obligation to submit these waivers for congressional review. The Trump administration argues that California's strict standards improperly limit consumer choice and impose an electric vehicle mandate on the entire nation.

This lawsuit marks the 72nd time California has sued the administration since January 2025. It is part of a broader conflict regarding environmental regulations, including previous disputes over California's mandate for all new vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emission by 2035.