Trump administration must release EV charger funds, judge rules in federal lawsuit
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to resume distributing electric vehicle charger funds to 14 states, ruling it overstepped by freezing money approved by Congress in 2021.
Sudhin Thanawala and Sophie Austin report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- U.S. District Judge Tana Lin ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully paused disbursement of EV charger funding approved under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, requiring it to release funds to 14 states.
- Sixteen states and Washington, D.C., sued over the halted funding; D.C., Minnesota, and Vermont were excluded from the injunction due to insufficient proof of harm.
- The $5 billion program aims to build a nationwide EV charging network, but Trump’s pause in February disrupted planning, construction, and reimbursement for many state projects.
Key quote:
“When the Executive Branch treads upon the will of the Legislative Branch, and when an administrative agency acts contrary to law, it is the Court’s responsibility to remediate the situation and restore the balance of power.”
— Tana Lin, U.S. District Judge
Why this matters:
The shift to electric vehicles is central to U.S. climate strategy and reducing tailpipe pollution, one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Building a robust public charging network is key to easing range anxiety and boosting EV adoption, especially in rural and lower-income areas. Delays in funding not only threaten construction jobs and state-level climate planning, but also slow momentum in transitioning away from gasoline-powered cars. Without clear federal support, private investment may stall, compounding logistical issues like grid upgrades and permitting. Political interference with legally approved climate infrastructure creates significant uncertainty in the nation’s environmental policy direction, with broad implications for public health and air quality.
Learn more: Trump administration sued by 17 states over frozen funds for electric vehicle charging network
