Story perspectives

U.S. Loses Climate Regulation Power, California Plans Lawsuit

2/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. federal government has lost its authority to regulate climate change, leaving no effective laws for passenger car and truck efficiency.
This follows Trump-era rollbacks culminating in elimination of the endangerment finding.
Margo T. Oge, a former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions regulator, says the United States now has 'zero' meaningful emission standards.
California plans to sue for stricter standards, and the Department of Transportation oversees fuel economy regulations.

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Story summary

The U.S. federal government has lost its authority to regulate climate change, leaving no effective laws for passenger car and truck efficiency.
This follows Trump-era rollbacks culminating in elimination of the endangerment finding.
Margo T. Oge, a former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions regulator, says the United States now has 'zero' meaningful emission standards.
California plans to sue for stricter standards, and the Department of Transportation oversees fuel economy regulations.