Federal Government Strikes Back: Hawaii’s Climate Lawsuit Triggers Unprecedented Legal War

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Hawaii to stop the state’s climate litigation against major oil companies. The federal government claims that Hawaii’s lawsuit threatens national energy independence and interferes with federal policies. Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez has pledged to fight this intervention vigorously. This confrontation is part of a broader pattern, as Michigan and two other states face similar federal action. The legal battle highlights growing tensions between state environmental efforts and federal authority.

Just weeks after Hawaii filed a lawsuit against major oil companies for allegedly misleading the public about climate change, the Trump administration has launched its own legal counterattack. On April 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Hawaii in federal court, seeking to stop the state’s case against oil giants including Mobil, ConPhillips, Shell, BP, and the American Petroleum Institute.

The DOJ’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, is part of a broader effort targeting multiple states with similar climate lawsuits. Michigan and two other states face identical federal legal action. The states of New York and Vermont are also facing federal lawsuits for their climate-related legal actions. The Justice Department claims Hawaii is obstructing administration initiatives to boost domestic energy supply.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi justified the federal intervention by pointing to an executive order signed by President Trump on January 20, 2025, which declared a national energy emergency.

“The Constitution and laws of this nation do not permit such interference,” stated the federal complaint, arguing that state lawsuits threaten energy independence and economic security.

Hawaii’s Attorney General Anne Lopez responded defiantly, stating the state “will not be deterred from moving forward” and plans to “vigorously oppose” federal intervention. Governor Josh Green backed this position, confirming Hawaii’s intention to make fossil fuel companies pay for climate deception.

The legal battle follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s January 13, 2025 decision that allowed Honolulu to proceed with its own climate change claims against fossil fuel companies. The Court denied the companies’ petitions for review, with Justice Alito not participating in the consideration.

The federal lawsuit aligns with Trump’s 2024 campaign promise to “halt surge of frivolous litigation from environmental extremists.” His administration has already withdrawn from global climate agreements and instructed officials to prevent state laws that “unreasonably burden domestic energy development.” Energy Secretary Christopher Wright has been aggressively implementing fossil fuel-friendly policies, including fast-tracked drilling permits and freezing wind energy development.

The unprecedented federal action against Hawaii marks a significant escalation in the fight over climate policy and raises important questions about states’ rights versus federal authority in addressing environmental concerns. This legal confrontation centers on federal preemption arguments that were previously highlighted by Alabama and 19 other states in their amicus briefs supporting the fossil fuel companies.