Attorney General Steve Marshall has announced the end of the Biden Administration's emissions regulations from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). These regulations, introduced in 2023, aimed to reduce emissions by setting targets for vehicles on federal interstates and highways. Alabama was part of a 21-state coalition led by Kentucky that opposed these rules.
The coalition argued that the FHWA rule was an attempt to eliminate gas-powered cars and impose a green agenda. They claimed it would cost each state over $600,000 in manpower to establish initial emissions targets.
In April 2024, a federal judge in Kentucky ruled against the Biden Administration. The administration appealed this decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. However, President Trump later withdrew support for the appeal, leading FHWA to dismiss it voluntarily.
Attorney General Marshall stated, "The people of Alabama—and Americans across the country—have the right to choose the vehicles that best suit their needs, free from the heavy hand of Washington bureaucrats." He further commented on what he called an "extreme environmental agenda" by saying it was "not just unlawful—it was an affront to our freedoms."
Marshall's statement emphasized states' rights over federal government intervention in transportation policy. He credited President Trump's leadership with ensuring that "this misguided EV mandate is now dead."
Other states joining Alabama in this legal challenge included Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.