16 states file lawsuit against Trump administration over billions in blocked electric vehicle charging funds
Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging the unlawful withholding of more than $2 billion in funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging programs. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Seattle, challenges the administration’s decision to block money allocated under the bipartisan infrastructure law, which was intended to expand EV charging infrastructure nationwide. Officials from the Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration are accused of “impounding” funds that Congress had earmarked to support cleaner transportation.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, one of the lead plaintiffs, said the administration’s actions threaten efforts to combat air pollution, address climate change, and promote green jobs and innovation. The lawsuit targets funds for two programs: $1.8 billion for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant program and roughly $350 million for the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator program. Attorneys general from California, Colorado, Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, along with the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania’s governor, are all participating in the suit.
The dispute follows earlier legal action by several states over $5 billion in the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, which had been temporarily blocked by the administration. While a federal judge previously ordered the release of much of that funding, the Trump administration has continued to slow access to other EV-related funds. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy subsequently issued revised guidance to streamline applications and facilitate charger deployment, and a handful of states, including Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, and Wisconsin, have announced awards under the program.
Since returning to office in January, the Trump administration has rolled back many Biden-era EV policies, including tailpipe emissions standards, fuel economy rules, and tax incentives, which had encouraged broader adoption of electric vehicles. Critics argue that these changes, combined with delays in federal EV funding, are slowing the growth of EV infrastructure and discouraging consumer adoption. EV sales have been affected, with the average price of a new electric vehicle reaching $58,638 last month, compared with $49,814 for new vehicles overall, leaving mainstream buyers hesitant due to high costs and limited charging availability.
The lawsuit comes amid broader shifts in the auto industry, as manufacturers respond to market and regulatory pressures. Ford recently scaled back its electrification strategy in favor of more hybrid and fuel-efficient gasoline vehicles, and Honda has also pulled back on its EV efforts. The legal challenge aims to ensure that states have access to federal resources necessary to support EV infrastructure, which proponents say is critical to advancing cleaner transportation and meeting climate goals.
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