States sue Trump administration to stop ‘illegal’ termination of federal electric vehicle funding
(May 8, 2025) Yesterday, in yet another Democratic backlash against what’s generally been perceived as presidential abuse of power and overreach, another coalition of U.S. State Attorneys General joined in a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from illegally terminating billions of dollars in congressionally approved funding for electric vehicle infrastructure. According to the suit, unless the courts check the president’s overreach, the State of Maryland alone stands to lose access to $49 million dollars in funding for electric vehicle infrastructure.
“Charging stations and ports are critical to helping more families transition to cleaner vehicles that reduce pollution and support our environmental goals,” saidAttorney General Anthony G. Brown. “By unlawfully withholding $49 million in approved funding, the Trump Administration is undermining efforts to expand our state’s charging network, reduce emissions, and build a healthier future for generations to come.”
“Maryland is committed to delivering its goal for its residents, businesses and tourists to have access to a reliable and abundant electric vehicle charging network from Mountain Maryland to the Eastern Shore,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld.
“A key element in achieving this goal is the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program established and funded by the U.S. Congress. The Maryland Department of Transportation values the U.S. Department of Transportation’s intent to modernize and update NEVI program guidance as soon as possible. However, the action taken to indefinitely pause the NEVI program is harming current and future EV drivers in Maryland. We join with our fellow Departments of Transportation in requesting immediate relief to access this previously approved NEVI funding.”
In 2022, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. One provision of the IIJA appropriated $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, or NEVI, to fill gaps in electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the states.
On January 20, Donald Trump signed a presidential executive order that mandated all federal agencies to pause disbursement of funds related to the IIJA and the Inflation Reduction Act and specifically targeted the NEVI program. Despite being tasked by Congress to fund NEVI, the Federal Highway Administration notified states in early February that the agency was revoking all previously approved plans to implement NEVI, a requirement for funding under IIJA.
FHWA’s actions put $49 million of NEVI program funds out of reach. That money was slated to go towards building a comprehensive system of fast-chargers along the state’s major highway network. Any excess funds would then be used to support the buildout of Level 2 chargers in communities otherwise lacking access to such infrastructure. The State Highway Administration estimates that withholding these funds will put 180 fast-charging ports and 1,611 additional Level 2 charging ports at risk.
The lawsuit filed yesterday by the coalition of 17 attorneys general seeks a court order against FHWA’s unlawful actions, and a restoration of the electric vehicle infrastructure funding for the states. The U.S. State Attorneys General involved in filing this latest lawsuit against the Trump administration are from the great states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont, and, the District of Columbia.
For more on the story, see the video accompanying this article.
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(Source: Office of the Maryland Attorney General)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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