In a stunning 7–2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has delivered a major blow to California’s climate agenda — and a sharp rebuke to Governor Gavin Newsom’s green revolution. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the majority, ruled that California’s electric vehicle mandates and aggressive emissions targets may violate federal law, clearing the way for energy producers to challenge the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of those policies. “The government may not strangle an industry through unlawful regulation and then hide behind immunity,” Kavanaugh wrote, calling out the EPA for shifting its legal stance over time.
The ruling marks a pivotal victory for American fuel manufacturers and a severe political setback for Newsom, whose plan to phase out gas-powered cars by 2035 was a cornerstone of his climate platform. It follows President Donald Trump’s recent move to dismantle several California environmental rules, signaling a new chapter in the fight over America’s energy future. Meanwhile, in a separate 6–3 decision, the high court sided with federal immigration authorities, reinstating their power to conduct wide-ranging enforcement sweeps. Together, the twin rulings underscore a clear message from the Supreme Court: state overreach and judicial leniency are no longer tolerated.
