In brief
A coalition including Washington, Colorado, and California has initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that it is unlawfully withholding billions in federal funds designated for electric-vehicle charging stations across the nation. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, claims the administration’s actions violate federal law and are detrimental to the emerging electric vehicle sector.
The bipartisan infrastructure law from 2021 allocated $5 billion to establish charging stations, but fulfillment has been minimal, with only 71 stations completed so far. The lawsuit points to the White House's recent budget proposal cancelling funding for certain EV programs as evidence of this freeze. California, which has sold nearly two million zero-emission vehicles, relies on approximately $384 million from these funds for expanding its charging network. Attorney General Rob Bonta asserts that the Trump administration's actions are unconstitutional and serve to favor the fossil fuel industry.
