DOJ Sues New York, Vermont, Hawaii, Michigan Over Climate Laws

The U.S. Department of Justice, under President Trump, has filed lawsuits against Hawaii, Michigan, New York, and Vermont, arguing that their state-level climate accountability laws and planned legal actions against fossil fuel companies overstep federal authority. The DOJ claims these state actions threaten American energy independence and conflict with the Clean Air Act, which it says gives the Environmental Protection Agency sole authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The lawsuits seek to block existing and potential state litigation against fossil fuel companies and to overturn laws in New York and Vermont requiring these companies to pay for emissions-related damages. Legal experts describe the DOJ's move as unprecedented and aggressive, raising concerns about federal overreach and the erosion of state rights to address climate change. State officials, including Michigan's attorney general, have criticized the lawsuits as frivolous and an attempt to preemptively block legitimate claims. The actions follow a Trump executive order directing the DOJ to challenge state and local climate initiatives perceived as obstacles to national energy policy.