The Senate has voted to block California’s first-in-the nation rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.

California’s authority to set environmental rules that are tougher than national standards had never been challenged by Congress. Until now.

Senate Republicans voted to overturn California’s electric-vehicle mandate via the Congressional Review Act, defying the GAO and the Senate parliamentarian.

The Republican-led Senate on Thursday overturned several key Biden-era waivers allowing California to set its own vehicle emissions, a major blow to that state’s effort to regulate pollution from cars and trucks that could have broad environmental impacts for the rest of the country.

Senate Republicans oppose California's car emissions rules, questioning the EPA's authority and potential nationwide effects.