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California, Coalition of States Sue Trump Administration Over Withheld EV Infrastructure Funds

-Editorial

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Department of Transportation, and the California Energy Commission announced today that California has co-led a coalition of 17 states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for allegedly withholding billions in federal funding designated for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, challenges a directive issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under the Trump Administration, which halts the distribution of funds from the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program. The program was established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2022 to support the nationwide expansion of EV charging networks.

According to the complaint, the FHWA directive rescinds the approval of previously submitted and federally approved state EV infrastructure plans and withholds funding already appropriated by Congress. California officials say the directive could cost the state more than $300 million, threaten thousands of jobs, and disrupt plans for building a statewide EV charging network.

“The demand for clean transportation continues to rise, and California will be at the forefront of this transition to a more sustainable, low-emissions future,” Attorney General Bonta said in a prepared statement.

Governor Newsom added that withholding the funds undermines American innovation and job growth. “President Trump’s action is a setback to EV infrastructure that benefits the nation and weakens U.S. competitiveness,” he stated.

California leads the nation in adopting zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), with over two million ZEVs sold in the state, accounting for more than 30% of all ZEVs in the country. The California Energy Commission projects the state will need hundreds of thousands of additional EV charging ports in the coming years to meet emissions and transportation goals. California’s NEVI plan, which had already received federal approval, includes $384 million in funding to build that infrastructure.

The lawsuit argues that the administration’s directive violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution by overriding congressional appropriations. The plaintiffs are seeking a preliminary injunction to block the withholding of funds and a court order declaring the directive unlawful.

California co-led the lawsuit alongside Washington and Colorado. The attorneys general of Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia also joined the complaint.

The case adds to ongoing legal battles between states and the federal government over environmental and energy policies.

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