California’s Leaders Take Action to Save Lives, Lower Costs for Millions Impacted by Deadly Tailpipe Pollution

(SACRAMENTO, Calif. – May 22, 2025) Today, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the impending filing of legal action and resolved to keep protecting the health and safety of Californians in response to the reckless and improper attack on the state’s clean air standards by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Republican leaders in Congress.

“We stand with California’s leaders in protecting the health and safety of millions of people from harmful vehicle pollution. The state's clean air standards for new cars and trucks protect children's lungs and the communities where they grow up from smog and soot. They help farmers, builders, and others who work outdoors breathe easier. They reduce the climate pollution that fuels deadly wildfires, droughts, and other disasters. They save hard-earned money at the pump — and they save thousands and thousands of lives,” said Vickie Patton, Environmental Defense Fund’s General Counsel.

“EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin abused his authority when he summarily reclassified California’s preemption waivers for clean vehicle standards. His action circumvented statutory limitations. It was done without public notice or opportunity for public input. It was part of an end run around full Congressional debate and consideration. It is flatly inconsistent with dozens of decisions by EPA administrators across Republican and Democratic administrations alike. And the nonpartisan experts at the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the Senate Parliamentarian have deemed the action improper.

“The only rationale Administrator Zeldin offered is that he disfavors California’s clean vehicle standards, but federal law nowhere authorizes him to attack California’s clean air program because he dislikes its protective policies. These protections are California’s protections – not Administrator Zeldin’s. They were adopted by California, under California authority, and they provide cleaner air and healthier lives for nearly 40 million people living in the state.”

General Bonta announced he is taking legal action today to protect Californians from the dangerous tailpipe pollution emitted by new vehicles after an unprecedented Congressional vote that was catalyzed by Administrator Zeldin’s unlawful reclassification of California’s preemption waivers for clean vehicle standards from state-specific actions to broad rules.

Since 1967, federal clean air law has guaranteed California’s right to its own more protective clean vehicle standards. Recognizing that California was already a leader in vehicle emissions control, and with the strong support of the state’s Congressional delegation and then-Gov. Ronald Reagan, Congress explicitly guaranteed in the Clean Air Act that California could protect its millions of people from tailpipe pollution. That law commands that the head of EPA “shall” approve the state’s protections unless EPA can make specific findings that they are not needed or cannot be achieved.