Trending Now - States Challenge Trump's Rollback of Environmental Protections
WHO:
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joined the lawsuit.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated, “The president is choosing Big Oil profits over our health, and betting that the American people won’t notice the cost until the bill comes due.”
24 states, 10 cities, and 5 counties are involved in the lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading the lawsuit.
Other attorneys general involved include those from Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The District of Columbia and U.S. Virgin Islands are also part of the lawsuit.
EPA spokeswoman Brigit Hirsch commented on the lawsuit.
WHAT:
The lawsuit challenges the Trump administration's decision to revoke the "endangerment finding," which concluded that climate change is a threat to human health and the environment.
The lawsuit was filed by 24 states, 10 cities, and 5 counties, all led by Democrats.
The lawsuit is the second major challenge to the endangerment repeal, following a suit filed by public health and environmental groups in February 2026.
The EPA's repeal of the endangerment finding was finalized on February 12th, 2026.
The lawsuit challenges the EPA’s decision to repeal tailpipe emissions standards for all vehicles and engines with model years between 2012 and 2017.
The Trump administration's rescission of the endangerment finding was described as “the single largest deregulatory action in US history” by Trump.
The lawsuit challenges the EPA's repeal of the 2009 endangerment finding regarding greenhouse gases.
The repeal eliminates all greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
The lawsuit is the second major challenge to the endangerment repeal, following a previous suit filed by public health and environmental groups.
Letitia James stated, “Instead of helping Americans face our new reality, the Trump administration has chosen denial, repealing critical protections that are foundational to the federal government’s response to climate change."
Massachusetts Attorney General Joy Campbell said, “Climate change is real, and it’s already affecting our residents and our economy.”
WHERE:
The lawsuit was filed in Washington, D.C.
The cities involved include Albuquerque, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
The counties involved are from California, Colorado, Texas, and Washington state.
WHEN:
The endangerment finding was established in 2009.
The lawsuit was filed on Thursday, March 19th, 2026.
The EPA finalized the repeal of the endangerment finding in February 2026.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a landmark case in 2007 regarding greenhouse gases as “air pollutants” under the Clean Air Act.
A 2023 decision by the D.C. appeals court rejected legal challenges to the endangerment finding.
WHY:
Letitia James stated, “Instead of helping Americans face our new reality, the Trump administration has chosen denial, repealing critical protections that are foundational to the federal government’s response to climate change.”
Massachusetts Attorney General Joy Campbell emphasized, “Climate change is real, and it’s already affecting our residents and our economy.”
Letitia James emphasized that the Trump administration's decision ignored the reality that "the climate crisis is here, and it is already reshaping the way we live."
The lawsuit asserts that the EPA’s rescission of the endangerment finding abandons a core responsibility to the American people.
Letitia James emphasized the need for federal protections against climate change impacts.
HOW:
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on March 19th, 2026.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on March 19th, 2026.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
The EPA stated it “carefully considered and reevaluated the legal foundation" of the 2009 finding in light of recent court decisions.
(UPDATED March 20, 2026 19:16 UTC)
A coalition of 24 states, 10 cities, and 5 counties, all led by Democrats, has filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump's administration over its recent decision to revoke the "endangerment finding," which recognized climate change as a significant threat to human health and the environment. This legal action, submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on March 19, follows a similar lawsuit from public health and environmental groups filed in February. Massachusetts Attorney General Joy Campbell highlighted the urgency of the issue, stating that climate change is real and is already impacting residents and the economy.
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(UPDATED March 20, 2026 11:09 UTC)
Yesterday, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joined a lawsuit challenging the EPA’s decision to repeal tailpipe emissions standards for vehicles and engines from model years 2012 to 2017. California Attorney General Rob Bonta criticized President Trump’s administration for prioritizing Big Oil profits over public health, while Letitia James pointed out that the decision disregards the pressing reality of the climate crisis. The lawsuit was officially filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on March 19, 2026.
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(UPDATED March 20, 2026 01:26 UTC)
A coalition of 24 states, including New York, Massachusetts, and California, along with the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, has filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency, challenging its recent repeal of greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles. Led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, the lawsuit argues that the EPA's actions abandon its responsibility to protect the American people from climate change, a sentiment echoed by Massachusetts Attorney General Joy Campbell. Filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on March 19, 2026, this legal action marks the second significant challenge to the EPA's endangerment finding repeal, which was finalized just last month.