by Plaintiffs Accuse Trump Administration of Illegally Blocking Funds
More than a dozen U.S. states have filed a lawsuit against the federal government. They allege that the government has illegally frozen funding for the national network of electric vehicle charging stations. At stake are billions of dollars that Congress has already approved for expanding electric vehicle infrastructure across the country, but these funds are now blocked by the current administration.
The main claims of the lawsuit are:
Scale of the Lawsuit and Legal Grounds
The lawsuit, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom, is also supported by 15 other states and the District of Columbia. It alleges 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,” which is a direct contradiction of federal law.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed by Congress in 2022, was designed to deploy thousands of electric vehicle charging stations across the country. However, as of this spring, the allocation of these funds has virtually stalled. In California alone, the program earmarked $59.3 million for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle freight corridors, $55.9 million for zero-emission freight routes, and $63.1 million for repairing and replacing faulty charging equipment.
Legal Arguments and Consequences of the Blockade
The lawsuit claims that the administration’s refusal to release these funds violates both the principle of separation of powers and the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs how federal agencies implement laws passed by Congress. The plaintiffs argue that the federal government cannot simply refuse to execute programs that have been funded and authorized by law.
The Trump administration is illegally withholding funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — investments that Congress approved to build America’s electric vehicle charging network, reduce pollution, and create thousands of good-paying jobs. We will not stand for it. California will defend the Constitution, our communities, and the future we are building. With 2.4 million zero-emission vehicles on our roads and critical projects ready for deployment, we are taking this to court.
Attorney General Bonta added criticism, calling the freezing of funding a threat to public health and environmental progress.
This is just another irresponsible attempt that will slow the fight against air pollution and climate change, hinder innovation, impede the creation of green jobs, and leave communities without access to clean and affordable transportation.
This litigation highlights a deeper political struggle around the energy transition and the role of the federal government in advancing it. Delays in deploying charging infrastructure could have a cascading effect, slowing the pace of electric vehicle adoption by consumers and businesses, especially in the freight sector where investments were significant. The success or failure of this lawsuit could set the tone for future conflicts between states and the federal government over the implementation of large-scale infrastructure and climate laws. California’s position as a leader in clean technology makes this case particularly important for the country’s long-term strategy of decarbonizing transportation.
