States, green groups sue Trump over fuel-economy rule

The fight over how much gas your next car burns just went to court. On Friday, two separate coalitions sued the Trump administration. They're challenging a rollback of federal fuel economy standards. The rule lets automakers build less efficient cars through 2031. The lawsuits say the rollback is illegal and will raise costs for drivers.

Two separate coalitions filed suit within days of each other. One is led by California's attorney general. It includes 26 states, counties, and cities. They argue the new rule isn't set at the "maximum feasible" efficiency level the law requires. The other is led by Sierra Club and the Environmental Defense Fund. It makes a similar legal argument from the environmental side. Both target the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the agency that wrote the rule.

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Will a court actually block the rule before it takes full effect? Fights like this have gone both ways in the past, and this one could take years to resolve. Until then, the weaker standard stays in place. Every new car sold under it is allowed to burn more gas than the rule it replaced.