Sixteen States Claim Trump Administration Is Illegally Withholding EV Funds | Carscoops

      California is leading a coalition of 16 states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the halted funding for electric vehicle chargers. They argue that the funding freeze breaches federal law and jeopardizes infrastructure projects.

      The lawsuit claims that the Trump administration improperly withheld funds designated for EV chargers, and California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that the state will uphold the Constitution in court. Other suing states include Arizona, Delaware, Maryland, Illinois, Michigan, and New York.

      Numerous U.S. states are pursuing legal action against the federal government for what they believe is an unlawful suspension of funding intended for the national electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

      The situation involves billions of dollars that Congress had already allocated to enhance EV infrastructure nationwide, which is now on hold due to the current administration's actions.

      California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom are leading the lawsuit, which also involves 15 additional states and the District of Columbia.

      The lawsuit claims that the U.S. Department of Transportation, under the Trump administration, “has quietly refused to approve any new funding under two electric vehicle charging infrastructure programs,” violating federal law.

      The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, enacted by Congress in 2022, aimed to establish thousands of EV charging stations throughout the country. However, as of this spring, the distribution of these funds has come to a standstill.

      In California specifically, the program had allocated $59.3 million for medium- and heavy-duty EV freight corridors, $55.9 million for zero-emission freight transport routes, and $63.1 million for repairing and replacing non-functional chargers.

      What Is Being Challenged?

      The lawsuit contends that the administration's inaction regarding the release of these funds infringes upon both the separation of powers and the Administrative Procedure Act, which regulates how federal agencies execute laws enacted by Congress.

      Who Else Is Participating?

      In support of California’s legal challenge are attorneys general from Arizona, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Their collective stance asserts that the federal government cannot arbitrarily refuse to execute programs that are funded and legally mandated.

      Governor Gavin Newsom remarked, “The Trump Administration is unlawfully withholding funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — investments Congress authorized to develop America’s EV charging network, reduce pollution, and generate thousands of well-paying jobs. We will not tolerate this.”

      He added, “California will defend the Constitution, our communities, and the future we’re creating. With 2.4 million zero-emission vehicles on our roads and important projects ready to advance, we are taking this to court.”

      Attorney General Bonta intensified the critique, labeling the funding freeze as a threat to public health and environmental advancement. “This is yet another reckless move that will impede the fight against air pollution and climate change, hamper innovation, disrupt green job creation, and leave communities without access to clean, affordable transportation.”