The Department of Justice has officially turned up the heat on California, launching two major lawsuits that strike at the core of the state’s long-standing defiance of federal law — one involving gun rights, and the other challenging California’s controversial emissions policies.
The first case takes direct aim at Los Angeles County’s concealed carry permitting process, which the DOJ says unlawfully restricts citizens’ Second Amendment rights. The lawsuit could have national implications if it succeeds, potentially paving the way for nationwide constitutional carry protections.
The second — and arguably more significant — lawsuit challenges California’s emissions standards and their enforcement through the state’s powerful Air Resources Board (CARB). According to federal filings, the DOJ argues that California’s rules are unconstitutional, violate federal emissions law, and interfere with interstate commerce by preventing manufacturers and transport companies from freely selling or moving goods between states.
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The move follows months of escalating tension between the Trump administration and CARB states that mirror California’s policies. Federal officials, including DOT Secretary Shawn Duffy, have reportedly begun withholding billions in federal infrastructure funding from California in response to its refusal to comply. That funding includes allocations for roads, bridges, and ferry projects—money California relies on heavily for its transportation network.
Meanwhile, several CARB-aligned states have already begun to reverse course, allowing previously banned vehicles like the Dodge Durango Hellcat back into showrooms. Observers say that as the lawsuits move forward, other states will likely follow to avoid being on “the wrong side of federal law.”
For the auto industry, the implications are massive. If the DOJ wins, it could end California’s ability to set its own vehicle emissions rules, reshaping the regulatory landscape for every major automaker.
As for the gun rights case, legal analysts say it’s the strongest federal challenge yet to state-level firearm restrictions — and a clear sign the federal government is moving swiftly to enforce constitutional carry rights nationwide.
