This week the Trump administration took away California’s authority to set auto emissions rules that are stricter than federal standards. This takes another step into removing government efforts to fight climate change. Lawyers said that the action takes the administration into uncharted legal territory. This is the first time ever that an administrator has ever revoked a state’s own authority to regulate its own air quality.

The Trump administration decision revokes the Clean Air Act of 1970 that Congress had passed. California had long pushed for automakers to adopt more fuel-efficient passenger vehicles that emit less pollution. California’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra said that there would now be a legal battle between the state and the federal government.

The President claimed however, “very little difference” in emissions between the federal and California’s standard, and said his decision will make cars “far safer and much less expensive.” The President also states that this will open up more job opportunities for people: “This will lead to more production because of this pricing and safety advantage, and also due to the fact that older, highly polluting cars, will be replaced by new, extremely environmentally friendly cars.”

Environmentalists condemned the move.  Environmentalist Defense Fund President Fred Krupp says, “ Everyone wins when we adopt strong clean car standards as our public policy. Strong clean car standards give us healthier air to breathe, help protect us from the urgent threat of climate change and save Americans hundreds of dollars a year in gas expenses.” Following the weekend done attack on Saudi Arabian oil output gasoline prices have crept even higher.

This legal battle with the state of California is the latest that is going on with the Trump Administration. With the Clean Air Act being revoked carbon gas emissions will rise. Although there may be an increase in open jobs for people there still will be a negative effect on the greenhouse gases. This will further combat the long war against climate change. The Trump administration’s choice to remove California’s ability to have their own laws goes against the reason why they had the right to implement the law in the first place. It was so that California could combat climate change and it was a major reason as to why Congress granted them the right.