DOJ sues states to shield oil companies from climate liability Case A Trump executive order (April 8, 2025) directed DOJ to stop state laws 'burdening' energy production. Within weeks DOJ sued four states: two to block their climate-superfund laws, and two to preempt climate-deception lawsuits against oil companies that had not yet been filed. Documentation Executive Order 'Protecting American Energy From State Overreach' (April 8, 2025) told DOJ to 'expeditiously take all appropriate action to stop the enforcement' of such state laws. April 30, 2025: DOJ sued Hawaii and Michigan to block climate lawsuits they had announced against fossil-fuel companies before the states could file them. May 1, 2025: DOJ sued New York and Vermont over their climate-superfund laws, which make large emitters pay for climate damage. Hawaii filed its suit against the oil companies anyway. Perspectives Official position — The White House and Justice Department Executive Order "Protecting American Energy From State Overreach" (April 8, 2025) told DOJ to take all appropriate action expeditiously to stop the enforcement of state laws that burden energy production. DOJ then sued Hawaii and Michigan on April 30 and New York and Vermont on May 1, 2025, as Hunton's summary describes. Critic — Hawaii and the other targeted states Hawaii filed its climate-deception suit against oil companies anyway after the Trump administration tried to block it. New York and Vermont's climate-superfund laws, which make large emitters pay for climate damage, were challenged by DOJ. Editorial read — The Author (site author) The Author's view is that suing states before they file climate cases uses federal power to shield one industry from legal accountability. This is interpretation. The entry notes DOJ's preemption and Commerce Clause arguments raise real legal questions that courts are still resolving, and that suing states pre-emptively is unusual but not unlawful. Note DOJ's preemption and Commerce Clause arguments are real legal questions courts are still resolving; suing states pre-emptively is unusual but not unlawful. Sources [1] Climate in the Courts (https://www.climateinthecourts.com/hawaii-sues-big-oil-for-alleged-climate-deception-after-trump-administration-tried-to-block-the-litigation/) [2] Hunton (https://www.hunton.com/the-nickel-report/doj-files-suit-against-hawaii-michigan-new-york-and-vermont-related-to-climate-legal-actions) [3] E&E News (https://www.eenews.net/articles/doj-sues-to-block-state-climate-superfunds/) Connections Related — Claims of immunity from law for Trump and federal agents Shared theme: using federal power to shield favored parties from legal accountability. Related — Collapse of environmental enforcement against polluters Same DOJ division, turned from prosecuting polluters to defending them. Related — Synthesis: Big Oil's return on investment across the whole administration Litigation shield for the industry.