California Challenges Federal Override of Coastal Permitting Rules

California's attorney general sued the Trump administration in January 2026 over approval to restart two Sable Offshore pipelines off Santa Barbara. The core dispute: whether federal authorization can bypass California's coastal permitting process, overseen by the Coastal Commission. The case hinges on interpreting the Coastal Zone Management Act—specifically whether it grants California a consistency review right over federally approved projects. A federal appeals court will likely decide.