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3d ago

DOJ Sues Four States Over Climate Lawsuits and Superfund Statutes

The Trump administration challenges Michigan, Hawaii, New York, and Vermont, citing federal preemption and threats to national energy policy.

Burned cars and homes in a neighborhood was destroyed by a wildfire on August 18, 2023 in Lahaina, Hawaii.
FILE - A Department of Justice logo is shown on a podium during a news conference, Sept. 30, 2010, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, file)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 21: A seal for the Department of Justice is seen on a podium ahead of a news conference with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland at the Department of Justice Building on March 21, 2024 in Washington, DC. During the news conference, Garland and DOJ officials are expected to make an announcement about ongoing antitrust investigations. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
U.S. President Donald Trump attends a rally to mark his 100th day in office, at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan, U.S., April 29, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File photo

Overview

  • The U.S. Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against Michigan and Hawaii to block their planned legal actions against fossil fuel companies for alleged climate damages.
  • Separate lawsuits target New York and Vermont over newly enacted 'climate superfund' laws imposing strict liability on energy companies for their greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The DOJ argues that these state-level actions are preempted by the Clean Air Act and infringe on federal powers related to emissions regulation and foreign affairs.
  • President Trump's executive order declaring a national energy emergency and prioritizing domestic energy production underpins the federal government's legal strategy.
  • Critics, including legal experts and state officials, describe the lawsuits as unprecedented and accuse the administration of prioritizing the fossil fuel industry over state sovereignty and climate accountability.