Overview

• President Trump signed an executive order on April 8, 2025, directing the U.S. Attorney General to block state climate laws deemed harmful to national security and domestic energy production.
• The order specifically targets California’s cap-and-trade program, along with climate policies in New York and Vermont, labeling them as burdensome and ideologically motivated.
• State governors, including members of the U.S. Climate Alliance, have vowed to continue pursuing climate initiatives despite the federal directive.
• The American Petroleum Institute and other industry groups have praised the order, arguing it protects energy producers from unconstitutional state regulations.
• The executive order is part of a broader Trump administration strategy to boost fossil fuel production and challenge state-led environmental policies.