President Trump Signs CRA Overturning the “California Car” Mandate

Thursday, June 12, 2025 – This morning at 11:00 AM, President Donald J. Trump signed into law Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions to overturn Biden-era rules granting Clean Air Act waivers to California. The Energy Marketers of America (EMA) was honored to attend the White House bill signing ceremony —marking a major victory for the auto and fuel industries, as well as for small businesses and working families across the country.

The CRA resolutions nullify three sweeping California mandates: (1) the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) rule, which attempted to ban internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035; (2) the Advanced Clean Trucks rule; and (3) California’s heavy-duty NOx emissions standards.

California’s ACC II rule would have required vehicle manufacturers to sell an increasing share of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) starting in model year 2026, culminating in a full ban on internal combustion engine vehicle sales by 2035. Seventeen states had already adopted portions of these California regulations, threatening to upend national transportation markets. These policies—enabled by EPA-issued waivers—would have sharply reduced the availability of liquid fuels, raised transportation and goods costs, and disproportionately harmed small business energy marketers and working families.

“EMA applauds the bipartisan work in Congress to rein in California’s regulatory overreach and protect consumer choice and fuel diversity,” said EMA President Rob Underwood. “Today’s bill signing makes clear: liquid fuels are essential to America’s energy future. We thank President Trump for his leadership and for standing up for small businesses, energy independence, and the millions of Americans who rely on affordable transportation options.”

Although the CRA now officially overturns EPA’s waiver approvals, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the State intends to pursue a legal challenge. Governor Gavin Newsom also denounced the action, claiming it undermines California’s climate agenda.

EMA remains committed to advocating for a diverse and affordable energy mix—and will continue to defend the rights of consumers and small businesses against harmful one-size-fits-all mandates.