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Texas successfully blocks federal highway pollution rules after federal government drops appeal

Summary

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton successfully blocked federal regulations that would have required states to track and report highway pollution levels. The rules, part of former President Joe Biden’s climate plan, aimed to measure greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and track progress toward net-zero emissions by 2050. After a lower court ruled in favor of Texas in 2024, the Biden administration appealed. However, under the Trump administration, the federal government dropped the appeal, leaving the nationwide block in place. Paxton praised the decision, calling the regulations an example of federal overreach and vowing to work with Trump to overturn Biden-era environmental policies. Environmental advocates warn that halting emissions tracking could hinder efforts to address climate change and air quality issues, particularly in heavily polluted urban areas. The decision marks a broader push by the Trump administration to roll back environmental regulations implemented under Biden.

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