Judge Strikes Down Biden’s Highway Climate Mandate: ‘The Rule Was Unauthorized’

A United States judge has ruled in opposition to a Biden administration highway climate rule that required states to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles using US highways, and to set declining carbon dioxide targets. The rule issued by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration in December 2023 was challenged in a lawsuit by Texas.

Appointee Chosen By Trump

The judge, appointed by Trump, made the decision that the DOT didn’t have the authority to implement the rule,

A contention also supported by Texas, which claimed the rule violated the Administrative Procedure Act and restricted use of federal funds.

Pollution Caused By Carbon

Pete Buttigieg, the Transportation Secretary said the rule,

“will provide states with a clear and consistent framework to track carbon pollution and the flexibility to set their own climate targets.”

Lawsuit Against The Biden Administration

Texas has filed a separate lawsuit against the Biden administration over different climate-related policies,

This includes a pause of liquefied natural gas export terminal projects being challenged by 16 Republican states.

Administrative Procedure Act

Texas AG Ken Paxton said, the DOT “does not have the statutory authority to institute such a rule,

and the mandate violates the Administrative Procedure Act.”

The Attorney General Of Texas

The Attorney General Texas condemned these actions as disregarding legal processes,

disrupting state economies, and undermining the constitutional structure.

Breach Of Spending Clause

“Further, the rule is arbitrary and capricious and violates the Spending Clause by impermissibly restricting the use of federal funds,

by requiring TxDOT to implement the greenhouse gas measure.”

Gas And Oil Industry

Paxton said,

“Biden’s unilateral decree disregards statutory mandates, flouts the legal process, upends the oil and gas industry, disrupts the Texas economy, and subverts our constitutional structure.”

Urgent Matter

In recent times, change has become an increasingly urgent matter.

One of President Biden’s initial actions after taking office was to recommit the United States to the Paris Agreement, an international treaty that is meant to limit global warming and reduce greenhouse emissions. aimed at limiting global warming and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Biden Wasted Little Time

President Biden wasted very little time in issuing a series of executive orders that focused on managing climate change.

These executive actions were directives to pause new oil and gas leases on public lands, establish a working group to promote environmental justice, and set a goal of conserving at least 30% of US lands and waters by 2030.

Clean Energy

A fundamental pillar of President Biden’s climate strategy is the promotion of clean energy. The administration has put forth significant investments in renewable energy.

Source: Unsplash/Appolinary Kalashnikova

These investments aren’t meant to only combat climate change, but also to bring forth new job opportunities to bolster the economy in the energy sector.

Impacts On The Environment

In combination with addressing the environmental impacts of climate change, the Biden administration has prioritized environmental justice.

Included in this is addressing the uneven impact of pollution and climate change marginalized communities.

Steps Made That Are Controversial

President Joe Biden’s administration has taken contentious moves in the efforts to confront the difficulties posed by climate change.

By recommitting the United States to the Paris Agreement, implementing ambitious climate action plans, and prioritizing investments in clean energy and environmental justice, the administration has demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing the urgent threat of climate change.