States sue over Trump blocking billions of dollars for electric vehicle charging

SACRAMENTO  — Seventeen states are suing President Trump’s administration for withholding billions of dollars in funding for the build-out of electric vehicle chargers, according to a federal lawsuit announced Wednesday.

The move comes after the Trump administration in February directed states to stop spending money for electric vehicle charging infrastructure that was allocated under then-President Biden. The program set out to allocate $5 billion over five years to states, of which an estimated $3.3 billion had already been made available.

The lawsuit challenges the Federal Highway Administration’s authority to halt the funding, said California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta’s office. He led the suit alongside attorneys general from Colorado and Washington. They argue that Congress, which approved the money in 2021 as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, holds that authority.

“The President continues to roll back environmental and climate change protections, this time illegally stripping away billions of dollars for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, all to line the pockets of his Big Oil friends,” Bonta, a Democrat, said in a statement.

Some states with projects running under the program have already been reimbursed by the federal government. Others are still contracting for their sites. Still others had halted their plans by the time the Trump administration ordered states to stop their spending. Regardless, getting these chargers installed and operating has been a slow process with contracting challenges, permitting delays and complex electrical upgrades.

It was expected that states would fight against the federal government’s efforts to slow the nation’s electric vehicle charger build-out. New York, for example, has been awarded more than $175 million in federal funds from the program, and state officials say $120 million is currently being withheld by the Trump administration; the state is part of the suit.

Even electric car maker Tesla, run by Elon Musk, who has spearheaded Trump’s cost-cutting efforts, benefited greatly from funding under the program, receiving millions of dollars to expand its already-massive footprint of chargers in the U.S.

Despite threats to the program, experts have said they expect the nation’s EV charging build-out to continue as automakers look to make good on massive electrification ambitions.

Consumers considering an EV cite concerns over charging infrastructure availability. Infrastructure remains a hurdle to adoption for people in multifamily dwellings, rural areas or what are otherwise known as “charging deserts,” as well as people without access to local or workplace charging, or who often drive longer highway routes.

EVs represented about 8% of new car sales in the U.S. last year, according to Motor Intelligence, a sign the market is growing although the pace has slowed as the auto industry looks to convince mainstream buyers about choosing EVs. The program was meant to assuage some concerns and build infrastructure along highway corridors first, then address gaps elsewhere once the state highway obligations were met.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom called withholding the funds illegal and said it would kill thousands of U.S. jobs — ceding them to China.

“Instead of hawking Teslas on the White House lawn, President Trump could actually help Elon — and the nation — by following the law and releasing this bipartisan funding,” Newsom said, referencing Trump’s recent purchase of a Tesla in a show of support for Musk.

The Trump administration’s effort to withdraw funding for electric vehicle chargers is part of a broader push to roll back environmental policies advanced under Biden.

During the Republican president’s first week back in office, he signed executive orders to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement again, reverse a 2030 target for electric vehicles to make up half of new cars sold, and end environmental justice efforts. At the same time, federal agencies under Trump have rolled back key rules and regulations and supported the build-out of the fossil fuel industry.

The U.S. House also advanced proposals last week aimed at blocking California from enforcing vehicle emission rules, including a ban on the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. The Senate parliamentarian says the California policies are not subject to the review mechanism used by the House.

Austin and St. John write for the Associated Press. St. John reported from Detroit.