WASHINGTON, March 12 (Reuters) - The Trump

administration on Thursday sued the state of California,

claiming the state's zero-emission vehicle and tailpipe

greenhouse gas emissions rules are illegal and preempted by

federal law.

The U.S. Transportation Department sued the California Air

Resources Board in the U.S. District Court over vehicle rules

that remain in place even after President Donald Trump signed

legislation last year to overturn California's Advanced Clean

Cars II waiver to phase out gasoline-powered cars by 2035, but

its prior rules remain in effect.