California, environmental group plan to sue Trump administration over emissions repeal

State and nonprofit vow legal action after federal rollback of greenhouse gas regulations

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Trump administration announced a rollback of regulations to curb greenhouse gas emissions, prompting immediate backlash from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the environmental law nonprofit Earth Justice. They plan to sue the federal government over the repeal, which they say will increase pollution from cars and trucks and endanger public health.

Why it matters

The repeal of these emissions regulations is a major setback in the fight against climate change, as transportation accounts for nearly 30% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. California has its own strict environmental laws, but the federal rollback could still impact the state and undermine efforts to reduce pollution nationwide.

The details

The Trump administration is ending a credit for automakers to add start-stop features that shut off gas engines when cars idle, a move companies like Ford and Stellantis praised. The EPA claims this will save drivers an average of $2,400 when they buy a new car, though one analysis found the feature can improve fuel economy and save drivers money. Environmental law professor Holly Doremus of UC Berkeley says the administration is only concerned about the economic impacts of regulations, not the public health consequences.

  • On February 13, 2026, the Trump administration announced the rollback of emissions regulations.
  • Immediately after the announcement, California Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed to take the matter to court.
  • Earth Justice, a leading environmental law nonprofit, also announced plans to sue the federal government over the repeal.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The governor of California who vowed to take legal action against the Trump administration's rollback of emissions regulations.

Earth Justice

A leading environmental law nonprofit that plans to sue the federal government over the repeal of emissions regulations.

Marvin Brown

A senior attorney with Earth Justice who is concerned about how the repeal will increase pollution from cars and trucks.

Holly Doremus

An environmental law professor at UC Berkeley who says the administration is only concerned about the economic impacts of regulations, not the public health consequences.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who dismissed health concerns related to climate change, referring to it as a "hoax."

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What they’re saying

“We plan to sue them in court as soon as the rule is filed in the public register.”

— Marvin Brown, Senior Attorney, Earth Justice (CBS News San Francisco)

“It's incredibly dangerous. We're talking about people's lives here. Not just the lives of people here today but thinking about future generations that are going tobe affected by the actions we take today.”

— Marvin Brown, Senior Attorney, Earth Justice (CBS News San Francisco)

“I tell them don't worry about it because it has nothing to do with public health. This was all a scam.”

— Donald Trump (CBS News San Francisco)

“They're claiming that even if the science of global warming is correct, the EPA does not have the authority to regulate greenhouse gases. I think that's where the core of the legal argument is going to be.”

— Holly Doremus, Environmental Law Professor, UC Berkeley (CBS News San Francisco)

“They are only concerned about the apparently about the economic impacts of regulations, like limitations on greenhouse gas emissions. That is very dangerous because what it means is, the implication is anything that's economically valuable can go ahead no matter how much it hurts people.”

— Holly Doremus, Environmental Law Professor, UC Berkeley (CBS News San Francisco)

What’s next

The judge will decide on the legal challenges brought by California and Earth Justice against the Trump administration's emissions repeal.

The takeaway

This rollback of emissions regulations is a major setback in the fight against climate change, and highlights the ongoing tension between environmental protection and economic concerns. However, the legal challenges from California and Earth Justice demonstrate that the battle is far from over, and that there are still avenues to hold the federal government accountable for its actions.