US judge bars EPA effort to send California vehicle emissions rules to Congress

A judge blocked the EPA from sending California’s vehicle‑emissions waivers to Congress for possible repeal, pausing an effort to undo the state’s clean‑air authority under the Congressional Review Act.
The waivers let California set stricter rules for cars, trucks and lawn equipment (including EV incentives), so the ruling preserves protections that affect about 40 million residents.
The judge sharply rebuked the EPA’s tactic as legal “gamesmanship,” a move tied to broader fights with automakers and recent congressional actions around California’s post‑2035 gas‑car restrictions.