Top agency staffer trying to block crucial Trump directive managed DEI team
Republicans on Capitol Hill are up in arms over the recent decision made by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) general counsel, Edda Emmanuelli Perez, regarding President Donald Trump’s request to override California’s strict gas emissions laws. What has particularly irked Republicans is the fact that Emmanuelli Perez once managed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives for the agency.
According to the GAO’s website, the Office of Opportunity and Inclusiveness (O&I) oversaw by Emmanuelli Perez, is responsible for advising senior staff on equal employment opportunities and promoting a fair and inclusive work environment. Republicans have dismissed Emmanuelli Perez’s decision as “DEI nonsense,” with Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana calling her a “far-left radical” who is undermining American prosperity.
Despite the backlash from Republicans, Emmanuelli Perez defended her decision, stating that GAO’s decisions are institutional products and go through an extensive quality assurance process. The GAO’s ruling, issued in response to a Congressional request, determined that California’s EPA waiver to enforce its 2035 gas car ban is not subject to the Congressional Review Act (CRA), preventing Congress from overturning California’s zero-emission goals.
Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley of California has vowed to move forward with a Congressional Review Act resolution to reverse the ban, citing concerns over the lack of democratic legitimacy in allowing California to ban 95% of the state’s cars without a vote from the Legislature. Despite the GAO’s ruling, Kiley remains committed to challenging California’s aggressive emissions goals.
The Trump administration, led by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, has been vocal about its opposition to California’s waivers under the Clean Air Act, which allow the state to preempt federal car and truck standards. Trump and Zeldin announced the creation of a National Energy Dominance Council to review Biden-era EPA rules, including the California waivers, which they argue increase the cost of vehicles and goods for Americans.
Democratic senators, including Sheldon Whitehouse, Alex Padilla, and Adam Schiff, praised the GAO’s ruling and criticized the Trump administration for attempting to eliminate California’s emission standards that have protected Americans from fossil fuel emissions for generations. Trump campaigned on eliminating such regulations and signed an executive order on his first day back in office to promote consumer choice by eliminating the electric vehicle mandate and state emissions waivers limiting gasoline-powered automobile sales.
Overall, the battle over California’s gas emissions laws continues to rage on, with Republicans challenging the GAO’s decision and the Trump administration taking steps to roll back environmental regulations. The clash between federal and state authority, as well as the intersection of environmental policy and DEI initiatives, remains a contentious issue on Capitol Hill.
