The lawsuit asserts that the Trump administration's funding freeze undermines state efforts to bolster electric-vehicle infrastructure.
States Unite to Challenge Trump Administration's Freeze on Electric-Vehicle Charging Funds
States Unite to Challenge Trump Administration's Freeze on Electric-Vehicle Charging Funds
A coalition lawsuit claims unlawful withholding of federal funds hampers infrastructure development.
A coalition of states, spearheaded by Washington, Colorado, and California, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its alleged unlawful freeze on federal funds designated for electric-vehicle charging stations. The bipartisan infrastructure law enacted in 2021 allocated $5 billion to support the development of these stations nationwide. Despite this, only 71 stations have been completed thus far, with many still in the planning stages, according to research from Atlas Public Policy.
The lawsuit, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, claims that federal agencies have improperly stopped the disbursement of these funds and delayed the approval of new charging stations, thus depriving states of essential financial resources crucial for expanding electric vehicle infrastructure.
The recent budget proposal from the White House indicated a cancellation of funding for programs related to electric vehicle chargers which they deemed “failed.” President Trump had previously targeted the initiative, initiating an executive order in January, which was followed by a memo from the Transportation Department aiming to halt these funding efforts. Nevertheless, the lawsuit highlights that discontinuing the funding outright requires congressional approval, which the administration has not secured.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta criticized the administration's actions, stating, “The president continues his unconstitutional attempts to withhold funding that Congress appropriated to programs he dislikes. This time he’s illegally stripping away billions of dollars for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, all to line the pockets of his Big Oil friends.” California has particularly leaned on $384 million from federal channels to expand its charging network, where nearly two million zero-emission vehicles have been sold, accounting for a third of total sales in the U.S.
The lawsuit aims to hold the Trump administration accountable for its funding freeze, emphasizing the impact on states' efforts to promote a cleaner, more sustainable vehicle infrastructure amidst growing demand for electric vehicles.
