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

The Justice Department accused four states of crossing.

The Trump administration is taking legal action against Democratic-led states in Hawaii, Michigan, Vermont and New York over climate-related actions, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

On May 1, the DOJ denounced four states overrunning through climate law and lawsuits.

“These burdens and ideologically motivated laws and litigation threaten the independence of America’s energy and our economic and national security,” Attorney General Pamela Bondy said in a statement. “The Department of Justice is committed to “unleashing American energy” by stopping these non-GI disorders to the production of affordable and reliable energy worthy of Americans. ”

The DOJ claimed that the Clean Air Act is already creating a comprehensive program to regulate air pollution in the United States.

The Clean Air Act is responsible for setting national standards for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), so the state is violating federal law through climate regulations, the DOJ said.

The lawsuit against the four states follows President Donald Trump’s April 8 executive order designed to protect American energy from state overreach, saying that state and local governments are threatened when they try to regulate energy beyond statutory authorities.

Hawaii and Michigan

The DOJ sued Hawaii and Michigan on April 30, attempting to block the filing of lawsuits against major gas and oil companies over alleged climate-related harms, according to the complaint.

NTD, sister media to the Epoch Times, contacted the offices of the governors and the offices of the Attorney General of both countries in response to DOJ’s legal action.

A spokesman for the Hawaii Attorney General told NTD that authorities have prepared a statement about the suit that will soon be released and refused to provide further details. Other offices did not respond immediately to email requests.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called the DOJ case “frivolous” in a statement.

“If the White House or Big Oil wants to challenge our claim, they can do so when our lawsuit is filed. They will not succeed in banning our access and making a court claim,” Nessel said. “I am afraid because I am not attached to my intention to file this case with the President and his large oil donors.”

New York and Vermont

DOJ challenged New York and Vermont to the May 1 climate “Super Fund” Act.

In May 2024, the Vermont Legislature passed the Climate Superfund Act. This will allow states to recover financial damages from fossil fuel companies due to the impact of state climate change. The recovered funds will support climate adaptation projects, according to the state.

In December 2024, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law requiring large fossil fuel companies to pay infrastructure and other projects aimed at protecting residents.

The law imposes penalties “on these companies that are intended to contribute to the harm that those states are said to be experiencing from climate change,” according to the DOJ. New York laws seek $75 billion from energy companies, while Vermont laws seek unspecified amounts.

The DOJ is seeking a declaration that these state laws are unconstitutional and seeking an injunction against the enforcement of state laws.

The offices of the Attorney Generals in both New York and Vermont did not immediately respond to NTD’s request for comment.

A Hochul spokesperson said in a statement: “Governor Hochul proudly signed the Climate Superfund Act because he believes that corporate polluters should not pay the damages caused to our environment, but to everyday New Yorkers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News