US judge bars EPA effort to send California vehicle emissions rules to Congress

A judge blocked the Environmental Protection Agency from sending California's vehicle emissions rules to Congress. The agency had sought to repeal these rules under the Congressional Review Act. California argued this action was illegal as the items were waivers, not regulations. The judge found the EPA's actions involved "Orwellian doublethink" and undermined legal compliance. The agency must now restore the previous status quo before June.