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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 electric vehicle charging infrastructure funding.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Seattle, represents the latest legal confrontation between Democratic-led states and the administration over EV charging funds that Congress allocated during President Biden’s term. State officials claim the Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration are improperly “impounding” these funds.
“The Trump administration’s illegal attempt to stop funding for electric vehicle infrastructure must come to an end,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta in a statement. “This is just another reckless attempt that will stall the fight against air pollution and climate change, slow innovation, thwart green job creation, and leave communities without access to clean, affordable transportation.”
Since returning to office in January, President Trump has demonstrated a clear shift away from electric vehicle policies that were championed by the Biden administration. His administration has systematically dismantled several Biden-era initiatives that supported cleaner transportation in favor of policies more aligned with oil and gas industry interests.
The lawsuit specifically targets the withholding of $1.8 billion for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant program and approximately $350 million for the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator program. These funds were part of the bipartisan infrastructure law passed during Biden’s presidency.
This legal action follows a similar lawsuit filed in May regarding the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. In that case, a federal judge ordered the administration to release much of the funding for chargers in more than a dozen states. Following the ruling, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued revised guidance intended to streamline state funding applications and make charger deployment more efficient.
Several states have already announced awards under the vehicle infrastructure program, including Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, and Wisconsin, according to EV data firm Chargeonomics.
The latest lawsuit is led by attorneys general from California and Colorado, joined by counterparts from Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania’s governor. All are Democrats.
The legal battle comes amid broader regulatory changes affecting the electric vehicle market. The Trump administration has proposed rolling back both tailpipe emissions rules and gas mileage standards established under Biden, while also eliminating fines for automakers who fail to meet these standards.
President Trump has repeatedly criticized federal EV charging programs, sometimes sharing inaccurate information about their status and implementation. “We had to have an electric car within a very short period of time, even though there was no way of charging them,” Trump stated at a December press conference, making a disputed claim about $8 billion being spent on nine chargers in the Midwest.
Meanwhile, the U.S. electric vehicle market has experienced a slowdown in sales growth. Consumer hesitation centers primarily around charging infrastructure availability and vehicle pricing. According to Kelley Blue Book, new EVs sold for an average of $58,638 last month, significantly higher than the $49,814 average for new vehicles overall.
Major automakers have responded to this market reality by adjusting their electrification strategies. Ford Motor Co. recently announced it was scaling back its ambitious multi-billion dollar EV plans in favor of more hybrid-electric and fuel-efficient gasoline vehicles. Earlier this year, Honda Motor Co. made a similar move to reduce its EV efforts.
The lawsuit reflects the ongoing tension between state-level climate initiatives and federal policy shifts, with significant implications for the future of electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure development in the United States.
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14 Comments
The administration’s decision to withhold EV charging funds is puzzling and concerning. Developing this infrastructure is crucial for driving widespread EV adoption and reducing emissions.
I share your concerns. The states are right to challenge this move in court. The federal government should be doing more to incentivize and enable the transition to electric vehicles.
This lawsuit highlights the political tensions around the transition to EVs. While the administration may have its reasons, withholding critical infrastructure funding seems short-sighted and counterproductive.
I agree. EV charging is essential for driving mainstream adoption. The states are right to take legal action to protect this important funding.
This is a disappointing development. The federal government should be working to support the growth of the EV market, not impeding it. Withholding critical infrastructure funding seems short-sighted.
Absolutely. EV charging is essential for increasing adoption and reducing emissions. The states are taking the right approach by suing to protect this funding.
This is an unfortunate situation. The federal government should be supporting the development of EV charging infrastructure, not obstructing it. Withholding allocated funds seems like a short-sighted and counterproductive move.
I agree. EV adoption is crucial for reducing emissions and transitioning to a cleaner transportation sector. The states are right to challenge this decision in court.
It’s concerning to see the administration take steps to undermine electric vehicle policies. Developing charging infrastructure is crucial for driving EV adoption and tackling climate change.
I agree. The federal government should be doing more to support the transition to clean transportation, not creating obstacles. This legal challenge by the states is an important step.
It’s disappointing to see the administration take steps to undermine electric vehicle policies. This kind of action will only slow progress on clean transportation and climate change mitigation.
Agreed. The federal government should be supporting the growth of the EV market, not creating obstacles. This is an important issue that deserves close attention.
It’s concerning to see the administration take steps backwards on electric vehicle policies. This kind of action will only slow progress on climate change and sustainable transportation solutions.
Exactly. The federal government should be working to incentivize and enable EV adoption, not creating roadblocks. I hope the courts rule in favor of the states.