# The US Justice Department is defending the Clean Air Act, a federal law authorising the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate air emissions. This comes as Hawaii and Michigan are planning legal action against fossil fuel companies for harm caused by the climate crisis. In return, the department has filed a lawsuit against Hawaii and Michigan, alleging violation of the intent of the Act. The department says both states’ laws impermissibly regulate out-of-state greenhouse gas emissions, and obstruct the Act’s comprehensive federal-state framework.
US Justice Department defends the Clean Air Act