U.S.: executive order seeks to limit states' role in energy regulation

On April 8, 2025, President Donald Trump issued the executive order Protecting American Energy from State Overreach, directing the U.S. Attorney General to identify and challenge state and local laws that undermine domestic energy production, according to the administration.

The executive order (EO) explicitly criticizes California for what it describes as extreme emissions policies, including stringent greenhouse gas standards for vehicles and the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).

The executive order signals a renewed push to limit the authority of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), reviving President Trump’s first-term effort to revoke the state’s Clean Air Act waiver. This waiver allows California to establ