Justice Department sues Hawaii, Michigan, Vermont and New York over state climate actions

Source: Associated Press

Justice Department sues Hawaii, Michigan, Vermont and New York over state climate actions

By ALEXA ST. JOHN
Updated 4:19 PM EDT, May 1, 2025

DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department filed lawsuits against four states this week, claiming their climate actions conflict with federal authority and President Donald Trump’senergy dominance agenda.

The DOJ on Wednesday filed lawsuits against Hawaii and Michigan over their planned legal action against fossil fuel companies for harms caused by climate change. On Thursday, the DOJ sued New York and Vermont, challenging their climate superfund laws that would force fossil fuel companies to pay into state-based funds based on previous greenhouse gas emissions.

The suits, which legal experts say are unprecedented, mark the latest of the Trump administration’s attacks on environmental work and raises concern over states’ abilities to retain the power to take climate action without federal opposition.

DOJ’s court filings said the states’ plans and policies “impermissibly regulate out-of-state greenhouse gas emissions and obstruct the Clean Air Act’s comprehensive federal-state framework and EPA’s regulatory discretion.”

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-doj-climate-states-policy-lawsuits-a5228e1dd6348f09d2a70f460142531a