California and 15 other states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully withholding billions of dollars in federal funding designated for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
The legal challenge, filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington State, includes plaintiffs such as New York, New Jersey, Colorado, and the District of Columbia. It centres on the administration’s February decision to suspend the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) programme and revoke prior approvals of state deployment plans. The programme was created under the Inflation Reduction Act, signed by former President Joe Biden, and aimed to accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
According to Senate Democrats, over $3 billion in funding is currently being withheld. The states contend that this move will significantly hinder efforts to expand EV charging networks, thereby undermining climate targets, pollution reduction, and green job creation.
“The administration’s action threatens our ability to make EVs accessible to more Americans, combat climate change, and grow our green economies,” the lawsuit states.
The U.S. Department of Transportation, led by Secretary Sean Duffy, has yet to respond to the lawsuit. Meanwhile, industry groups representing automakers and EV charging providers have urged the department to reinstate the suspended funding.
Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has taken steps to reverse Biden-era climate and energy policies. He has promoted fossil fuel development, repealed a 2021 executive order that aimed for 50% of all new vehicles sold to be electric by 2030, and sought to end state-level zero-emission vehicle mandates and defund high-speed rail projects in California. The suspension of the $5 billion NEVI programme is the latest in a series of actions reflecting his opposition to clean energy initiatives.
