Trump admin reportedly planning to prevent California from creating its own emissions regulations

The Environmental Protection Agency will reportedly declare California's strict emissions standards for automobiles to be in violation of federal law.

What do we know?

California is currently trying to push for companies to produce and sell more zero-emission vehicles and wants to be able to put more strict emissions standards in place than the rest of the country. But the Trump administration wants all emissions standards to be set by the federal government.

On Tuesday, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said, "In the very near future, the Trump administration will begin taking the steps necessary to establish one set of national fuel-economy standards."

He also promised that the administration would act "very soon" in order "to bring clarity to the proper — and improper — scope and use of the Clean Air Act preemption waiver."

Before this, California had permission to set its own standards regarding emissions and pollution. It has also convinced BMW, Ford, Honda, and Volkswagen to stick to the now-repealed Obama-era regulations on fuel efficiency that were weakened by President Donald Trump. Under these regulations, automakers were required to artificially lower the cost of electric cars in order to encourage people to buy them. The Department of Justice is currently investigating this agreement between the California government and auto manufacturers.

The state is expected to challenge the EPA over this latest move in court.

Trump has criticized California's environmental policies regarding cars before

The president has criticized "California regulators" for regulating cars when "the Feds are giving a far better alternative." On Aug. 21, Trump tweeted:

Henry Ford would be very disappointed if he saw his modern-day descendants wanting to build a much more expensive car, that is far less safe and doesn't work as well, because execs don't want to fight California regulators. Car companies should know that when this Administration's alternative is no longer available, California will squeeze them to a point of business ruin. Only reason California is now talking to them is because the Feds are giving a far better alternative, which is much better for consumers!