State clean truck standards cut diesel pollution by phasing in zero-emission trucks. In 2025, Congress used the Congressional Review Act to try to cancel EPA waivers that let California and other states set stronger rules. Winning means the waivers stand, and states can keep enforcing clean truck standards.
Why this matters now
Diesel truck exhaust is linked to asthma, heart disease, and cancer. In Washington state, diesel exhaust is described as the most harmful air pollutant and is tied to 70% of toxic air cancer risk.
Across the U.S., 72 million people live near freight routes and face higher health risks from truck pollution. Many of the hardest-hit neighborhoods are lower-income communities and communities of color, where soot and smog can add to long-standing health gaps.