FILE - In this Thursday, April 18, 2019, file photo, a sign for the Department of Justice hangs in the press briefing room at the Justice Department, in Washington. The U.S. Justice Department is conducting an antitrust investigation of four automakers that have signed on with California in a deal to toughen tailpipe emissions standards. In July, Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW reached a deal with California to abide by standards that are tougher than those preferred by the Trump administration.
The emissions fight will make or break an effort by President Donald Trump to relax mileage standards nationwide. California’s congressionally granted authority to set its own, tougher emissions standards under the 1970 Clean Air Act has long prodded automakers to adopt more fuel efficient passenger vehicles.
Ford spokesman T.R. Reid confirmed Friday that the company received the Justice Department letter and says the company is cooperating. He would not disclose which other automakers may have gotten the letter but Honda confirmed that it had also received it. Emissions standards are closely linked with fuel economy requirements because vehicles pollute less if they burn fewer gallons of fuel.In the letter to California, the EPA and Transportation Department warned the state’s pollution regulator to “disassociate” itself from the deal with the four automakers. “Those commitments may result in legal consequences given the limits placed in Federal law on California’s authority,” the letter said.
State law trumps federal law
The clown in the White House is one big violation of federal law !
That's right. It is now federal law to make the air as unbreathable as possible. What the heck is wrong with you, CA? Did you not get the [cough] memo?
This sounds something Hendrick would do as he has in the past in the automotive industry
NOW the Trump administration cares about federal law? CA needs to tell them to f*** off. What are they going to do? Cut off federal aid? CA pays more to the federal govt than they receive. As long as Trump is in office CA should follow his lead & do whatever they want.
Party of States Rights
Absolutely! Zero clean air and piss poor mileage for everyone?
So much for states rights.
aren't republicans for smaller federal government, balanced budgets and states' rights? oh .... right.
Where is the GOP outrage over big federal government infringing on State rights?!!! Seems clear you don’t care about state rights and you don’t care about big government. You just want to change the rules depending on whether you agree .GOP .RandPaul .tedcruz .MittRomney
So what? CA has been violating federal law with regards to cannabis policy for over 20 years and that wasn't even a net positive for the world as whole. Keep on truckin' California!
Same as with the light bulbs - we have the 'right' to have the choice of halogen bulbs or produce only LED bulbs after 2020. Trump thinks emission standards aren't important.
That's B.S. I have read the law. It don't violate federal law. tRump IS VIOLATING IT though.
What crazy shit is this DOJ doing now? Don't they have better ways to spend our money than trying to prevent companies from caring about the damn planet?
It's now the EPA job to make sure we don't pollute to little.
Never in my wildest dreams did I really believe this could happen in reality. Think about this. This is insane!
That the EPA is arguing that a signed deal that four major auto dealers is telling. The EPA should be using that as tool to extract the same deal with all the others.
Trump is a dictator whom does not like to be questioned. But he in not in charge of a dictatorship so he will not win.
4 more years of this, Earth might just literally cease to exist...We must get Republicans as far away from public office as possible, for a good 25yrs or so, so Earth can be saved...
That's ridiculous. California has legal authority to set its own emission standards. That gives it the right, as a regulator, to reach agreements with the auto companies. They do not violate anti trust law by doing it, just as they can agree with EPA about national standards.
What a coincidence! The current head of DOJ violated federal law when he committed perjury in his first appearance before Congress.
why is this needed by the federal govt to do? Why are we spending tax dollars to limit 4 private companies on wanting to make tougher emissions standards?
So? They are going to tell the auto makers that they can’t make more efficient cars. This is ridiculous.
The EPA is pissed that California is trying to protect the environment. Let that sink in.
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