Trump Revokes CARB EPA Waivers: What It Means for the Trucking Industry

In a significant move affecting the transportation sector, President Donald Trump has signed measures officially revoking California Air Resources Board (CARB) waivers previously granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This action effectively blocks California’s ban on new sales of gas-powered cars and eliminates the state’s authority to enforce stricter emissions standards for trucks. The decision marks a major shift in the ongoing tension between federal and state regulatory powers and has substantial implications for the trucking industry nationwide.

For nearly six decades, California has held a special position in U.S. environmental regulation. Due to its severe air pollution challenges in the 1960s, the state was granted unique authority under the 1967 Clean Air Act to set stricter vehicle emissions standards than federal requirements. This authority was later reinforced in the 1970 Clean Air Act amendments signed by President Richard Nixon.

Before implementing these stricter standards, California must obtain waivers from the EPA. Historically, these waivers have been routinely granted across both Republican and Democratic administrations. Until recently, the EPA had granted California approximately 100 waivers without congressional intervention.

This special status has allowed California to pioneer emissions regulations that often later become national standards. Many innovations in vehicle emissions technology, from catalytic converters to check engine lights, were first mandated in California before being adopted nationwide.

President Trump’s action specifically targeted three EPA waivers granted to California during the Biden administration:

The Trump administration utilized the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to revoke these waivers, a rarely used legislative tool that allows Congress to overturn certain federal agency actions. This approach represents a significant departure from previous challenges to California’s authority.

During Trump’s first term, his administration attempted to revoke California’s waiver authority through executive action, which triggered legal challenges. This time, the administration pursued a different strategy by involving Congress directly.

The process began with the House of Representatives passing three resolutions (H.J. Resolutions 87, 88, and 89) to revoke the waivers. The Senate subsequently approved these measures, with the final vote largely following party lines. President Trump’s signature on June 12, 2025, completed the process.

The Trump administration and congressional supporters have offered several justifications for revoking California’s waivers:

At the signing ceremony, President Trump called California’s regulations “crazy” and stated they had been “a disaster for this country.” He emphasized that his action “will kill the California mandates forever, and they’re never coming back.”

The response from the trucking industry has been largely positive, with major trade associations welcoming the change. Industry representatives have consistently argued that California’s zero-emission vehicle mandates were technologically challenging and economically burdensome, particularly given the current state of electric truck technology and infrastructure.

The American Truck Dealers (ATD) and National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) issued a joint statement applauding the action, saying: “America’s franchised dealers applaud President Trump for signing bipartisan legislation to stop California regulators from banning sales of new gas vehicles and diesel trucks.”

Industry groups have highlighted several concerns with California’s mandates:

California officials have vowed to fight the revocation in court. Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta held a press conference immediately following the Senate vote, announcing their intention to sue the Trump administration.

California’s legal challenge will likely center on two main arguments:

Attorney General Bonta characterized the action as “unlawful and unprecedented,” noting that the CRA has been in place for 30 years and has never been used to revoke an EPA waiver. He stated that this would be California’s 23rd lawsuit against the Trump administration.

Environmental groups and public health advocates have strongly criticized the revocation of California’s waivers, arguing that it will have significant negative consequences for air quality and climate change mitigation efforts.

The American Lung Association called the action “a major blow to the decades-long public health protections delivered under the Clean Air Act.” The organization emphasized that vehicle emissions remain a primary contributor to air pollution, particularly in California’s most affected regions like the Los Angeles basin and San Joaquin Valley.

Environmental advocates highlight several concerns:

Dan Becker with the Center for Biological Diversity called the signing of the resolutions “Trump’s latest betrayal of democracy” and characterized it as “a flagrant abuse of the law to reward Big Oil and Big Auto corporations at the expense of everyday people’s health and their wallets.”

The revocation of California’s waivers has several immediate implications for trucking companies, dealers, and manufacturers:

The revocation of California’s waivers creates a new regulatory landscape, but several factors will influence how the situation evolves:

California’s promised legal challenge will likely take months or years to resolve. During this period, regulatory uncertainty may persist as courts determine whether the Congressional Review Act was appropriately applied to EPA waivers.

The EPA under the Trump administration has signaled interest in reconsidering the federal Phase 3 greenhouse gas and NOx emission standards scheduled for implementation in 2027. Any changes to these federal standards would further reshape the regulatory landscape for the trucking industry.

California may explore alternative approaches to reducing vehicle emissions, such as:

Regardless of regulatory requirements, market forces and technological development will continue to influence the adoption of zero-emission vehicles:

Despite the regulatory shift, trucking companies should consider several strategies to navigate the evolving landscape:

The current dispute over California’s regulatory authority has deep historical roots. Understanding this context helps illuminate why the revocation of these waivers represents such a significant shift in environmental policy.

This back-and-forth between federal administrations highlights how California’s emissions authority has become a political flashpoint in the broader debate over environmental regulation and federalism.

President Trump’s revocation of California’s EPA waivers represents a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for the trucking industry. While industry groups have largely welcomed the change as providing relief from what they viewed as unrealistic mandates, environmental advocates warn of potential consequences for air quality and climate goals.

The ultimate impact of this decision will depend on several factors, including the outcome of California’s legal challenge, potential changes to federal standards, and ongoing technological and market developments in the zero-emission vehicle space.

For trucking companies, the current situation offers both regulatory relief and a reminder of the importance of developing flexible strategies that can adapt to an evolving policy landscape. While immediate compliance with California’s zero-emission mandates is no longer required, the industry’s long-term trajectory toward cleaner technologies is likely to continue, driven by a combination of regulatory, market, and technological factors.