The Senate voted on Thursday to block California’s first-in-the nation rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, acting to kill the nation’s most aggressive effort to transition toward electric vehicles as President Donald Trump ’s administration has doubled down on fossil fuels.

The Senate has blocked California's plan to phase out the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles, triggering a legal battle that could impact the electric car market in the U.S.

Senate Republicans could vote this week to take away California's ability to impose tough limits on car emissions — a move Democrats call unprecedented.

Senate Republicans have voted to establish a new precedent that will allow them to roll back clean air standards in California, including a rule phasing out the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035

Congress has passed a measure to overturn California’s phased-in 2035 ban on the sale of new gas cars. The vote impacts 11 other states and the District of Columbia, which make up 40% of the nation’s car market and adopted California emissions standards.

S.D., said that the Senate will begin to consider three House-passed resolutions that would roll back the standards. Final votes could come as soon as this week.