US DOT and DOJ Sue California Over EV Mandate

DOT Press Releases

Filed March 12th, 2026

Detected March 14th, 2026

Summary

The U.S. Departments of Transportation and Justice have filed a lawsuit against California to block its electric vehicle (EV) mandate. The federal government argues the mandate illegally imposes state-specific mileage requirements on car manufacturers, violating federal law.

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What changed

The U.S. Departments of Transportation and Justice, on behalf of NHTSA, have filed a lawsuit to prevent California from enforcing its electric vehicle (EV) mandate. The federal government contends that California's mandate, which effectively sets state-specific mileage requirements for car manufacturers, is preempted by federal law that prohibits individual states from adopting regulations related to fuel economy. This action is part of the Trump administration's initiative to reset CAFE standards and lower vehicle costs.

This lawsuit challenges California's authority to implement regulations that deviate from national fuel economy standards, which the federal government argues would increase car prices, limit consumer choice, and disrupt interstate commerce. Regulated entities, particularly auto manufacturers and importers, should monitor the progress of this litigation as it could impact national vehicle production and compliance strategies. The lawsuit aims to ensure a single federal standard for fuel economy, preventing a patchwork of state-specific requirements.

What to do next

Monitor litigation progress regarding California's EV mandate.
Assess potential impacts on vehicle production and compliance strategies.

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In This Section

Media Contact

Press Office

US Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
United States

Email: pressoffice@dot.gov
Phone: 1 (202) 366-4570

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President Trump’s Transportation Department & Justice Department Sue to Stop California’s Illegal EV Mandate

Thursday, March 12, 2026 The Trump Administration will protect American families from higher car prices & manufacturers from making vehicles the public doesn’t want

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General Pamela Bondi today announced that the Justice Department, on behalf of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has filed suit to stop California from imposing an illegal electric vehicle (EV) mandate through what are effectively state-specific mileage requirements for car manufacturers. Federal law prohibits individual states from adopting regulations related to fuel economy.

President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Duffy created the “ Freedom Means Affordable Cars ” initiative to save the American people $109 billion over the next five years and save families $1,000 on the average cost of a new vehicle by resetting NHTSA’s corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards. California’s scheme would force carmakers to revamp their production lines nationwide to meet standards more stringent than the national standards adopted by NHTSA. The deviation would send car prices through the roof, restrict consumer choice, and undermine interstate commerce.

“I was proud to stand alongside President Trump to unveil our plan to eliminate the Biden-Buttigieg EV mandate and allow auto manufacturers to produce cars American families actually want to buy at a more affordable price. But Gavin Newsom is determined to continue pushing Democrat’s radical EV fantasy – even if doing so is illegal,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Newsom may not care about lowering costs, but President Trump does. I want to thank Attorney General Bondi for fighting to protect consumer choice and stop activist governors from destroying our manufacturing sector.”

“Oppressive, expensive electric vehicle mandates drive up costs for American consumers and violate federal law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “California is using unlawful policies from the last administration to create exorbitant costs for their citizens — this Department of Justice is proud to stand with President Trump and Secretary Duffy to bring litigation that will make life more affordable for American consumers.”

“This litigation will help automakers design and produce cars and trucks to meet one federal fuel economy regulation. It was a mistake by Presidents Obama and Biden to enable California to set its own backdoor fuel economy policies, which have now spiraled into a costly patchwork quilt of individual state fuel economy requirements. This litigation will correct that misstep,” said NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison.

“These lawsuits continue ENRD’s war on regulatory overreach by California and other states that are set on undermining the national market for motor vehicles through unlawful state policies,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The state vehicle standards we are challenging today are preempted by federal law, just like the standards that were blocked by a court in our challenge to California’s so-called Clean Truck Partnership.”

Read more about President Trump and Secretary Duffy’s “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” initiative HERE.

Read the United States' complaint HERE.

Additional Information:

The case challenges the states’ regulations as preempted under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which makes NHTSA the exclusive regulator of fuel economy in the United States.

The litigation involves defendants California’s Air Resources Board and its executive officer in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.

The case number is 2:26-450 in California.