California Governor Gavin Newsom is scheduled to engage with the Biden administration this week, focusing on issues such as zero-emission vehicles and disaster relief efforts. These topics have previously been focal points during President Donald Trump’s tenure.
Newsom is embarking on his trip to Washington on Monday and plans to return by Wednesday. During his visit, he will also meet with representatives from California’s congressional delegation.
A key part of his agenda includes seeking federal approval for the state’s climate regulations, requesting $5.2 billion in reimbursements for emergency aid tied to the COVID-19 pandemic, and pushing for updates to California’s Medicaid program, among other priorities.
This trip comes shortly after Newsom called for a special session of state lawmakers in December to safeguard California’s progressive policies in anticipation of Trump’s potential return to the White House in January. Thad Kousser, a political science instructor at UC San Diego, noted that California successfully countered numerous legal challenges made by the Trump administration against its environmental initiatives during his first term.
“The key issue is whether Donald Trump has altered the legal landscape enough through his judicial appointments so that he might prevail on policies during his second term,” Kousser expressed.
During his presidency, Trump appointed over 230 federal judges, including three justices to the Supreme Court. He also rescinded California’s authority to enforce its own tailpipe emissions standards in 2019, a move later reversed under President Biden, with the restoration upheld in federal courts.
Typically, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets emissions standards for various vehicles, but California has historically received waivers to impose its own, more stringent regulations. Currently, there are eight climate measures pending waivers from the EPA, including requirements that all new vehicles sold in the state be zero-emission by 2035 and a shift away from diesel-powered trains.
U.S. Representative Gil Cisneros, newly elected to serve Los Angeles County, emphasized the responsibility of fellow Democrats to safeguard crucial policies, even if Republicans hold a majority in the House.
“If Trump moves forward with his promises like repeal of the Affordable Care Act, mass deportations, and increased tariffs, it’s essential for us to communicate the adverse effects of these policies on the economy and the finances of American families,” Cisneros stated.
During the 2020 presidential elections, Trump decisively beat Vice President Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor in California. Newsom has been seen as a counterpart to Trump over the years and played a prominent role in advocating for both Biden and Harris’s campaigns.
