The battle over climate change isn’t just happening in the streets or on social media—it’s heating up in the courtroom.
In a move that’s already stirring controversy, the Justice Department is suing four states for trying to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in climate change.
Here’s what’s going on.
Federal Government Pushes Back Against State Climate Laws
The Justice Department has launched lawsuits against New York, Vermont, Hawaii, and Michigan, accusing them of overstepping their legal boundaries with aggressive climate-related measures.
The department says these state laws and lawsuits unfairly target energy companies and put a serious strain on America’s ability to produce affordable energy.
In the words of Attorney General Pamela Bondi, these legal actions are “burdensome and ideologically motivated,” and they “threaten American energy independence.”
The lawsuits aim to block the states from moving forward with policies or court cases that would, in the federal government’s view, interfere with the country’s energy production and national security.
Trump Administration Backs the Legal Assault
President Trump recently directed Attorney General Bondi to take a stand against what he calls unreasonable state interference in domestic energy production.
The move falls under Executive Order 14260, which is focused on protecting U.S. energy development from what the administration describes as state “overreach.”
Bondi doubled down, saying the Justice Department’s mission is to “Unleash American Energy,” and part of that means stopping laws that could potentially drive up energy costs or create instability in energy markets.
The Core of the Fight: State vs. Federal Power
At the heart of the lawsuits is a fundamental legal argument: that these state actions are preempted by federal law—specifically, the Clean Air Act—and also violate the Constitution.
The federal government is also leaning on the idea that managing international climate issues falls under federal jurisdiction, not the states’.
The lawsuits claim that when states like Hawaii and Michigan threaten to sue fossil fuel companies for climate-related damages, they’re disrupting the balance of power and harming national interests.
The Justice Department argues this could not only hurt the economy but also weaken U.S. defenses against foreign threats.
New York and Vermont Targeted for “Climate Superfund” Laws
In a separate move, the DOJ is challenging so-called “climate superfund” laws passed in New York and Vermont.
These laws would force fossil fuel companies to pay up—big time—for climate damage allegedly tied to their global operations. For example, New York wants $75 billion from energy producers.
The federal lawsuits claim these state laws go too far.
They accuse New York and Vermont of trying to impose strict liability on energy companies for their activities around the world, which the DOJ says violates constitutional limits and the federal Clean Air Act.
The Big Ask: Stop the States in Their Tracks
The Justice Department isn’t just asking for a slap on the wrist.
It wants federal courts to officially declare these state laws unconstitutional and stop their enforcement altogether.
That includes halting New York and Vermont’s efforts to collect massive sums from fossil fuel producers and preventing Hawaii and Michigan from moving forward with their lawsuits.
What’s Next in This Legal Battle?
This could be a major legal showdown, especially as more states try to take on Big Oil over climate change.
With billions of dollars and federal versus state power on the line, it’s likely this fight will drag on—and may even end up at the Supreme Court.
Stay tuned—this one’s far from over.