They still exist. As with many things with this administration it's a test. The more compliance they get the more they move the posts. Resistance is a very real and very frustrating thing for them to deal with. It just doesn't seem as if it's doing a lot because they can continually create other issues. Illusionary posts if you will.

"States Rights" are for when there's a Democrat in the White House.

So, the EPA sets emissions rules for the country, on the grounds that it would be problematic for industry if there was a patchwork of 50 different sets of rules about this stuff. California got the feds to agree to let them set their own stricter limits, though, and allowed other states to sign on to also use California's rules if they wanted to, which several did.

So I think what's happening here is that the waivers are being rescinded. They've been in place for ages (at least 50 years, I think?) so it's a huge departure from business as usual, but you know how Trump loves stomping on norms.

This article has some of the relevant points: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/22/nx-s1-5387729/senate-california-ev-air-pollution-waiver-revoked

It was never about principles — only ever about domination and cruelty

States rights matter as much now as they did during the Civil War. Means to an end, that's all

They were never really real to begin with