Trump administration takes California to court in hopes of blocking EV mandate

The Trump administration announced Thursday it’s suing California over its electric vehicle mandate. 

The administration's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, argues a state adopt regulations related to fuel economy is illegal. 

“Oppressive, expensive electric vehicle mandates drive up costs for American consumers and violate federal law. California is using unlawful policies from the last administration to create exorbitant costs for our citizens,”  Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. 

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) passed regulations that require 35% of new 2026 model cars sold in the state be zero-emission, and that increases to 100% by 2035.

California regulations would force automakers to align the production lines nationwide in order to meet California’s standards, which are more stringent than federal regulations. This deviation would send car prices soaring, restrict consumer choice and undermine interstate commerce, the Trump administration explained in the announcement.