California and 16 other states have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. federal government, accusing it of unlawfully blocking $5 billion in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure funding allocated by Congress. The funds were part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, established under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to accelerate the deployment of public EV chargers across the country.
The complaint, led by California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, argues that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) acted illegally when it froze funding earlier this year. The pause, allegedly prompted by directives from former President Donald Trumpās team, has disrupted ongoing state-led efforts to build EV charging networks. The lawsuit is joined by states including New York, Illinois, Minnesota, and the District of Columbia.
The NEVI program has been a cornerstone of national EV policy, encouraging the buildout of open-access charging stations and prompting industry-wide changes, including Teslaās decision to open its Supercharger network to non-Tesla EVs. Many states have already begun construction or planning on the basis of the NEVI funds, with some chargers operational.
Critics of the freeze argue that blocking the already appropriated funds undermines U.S. efforts to compete in the global EV race and risks ceding leadership to international rivals. The legal filing seeks an immediate injunction to release the withheld funds and prevent future federal obstruction of the NEVI program. The states assert that the action not only violates federal appropriations law but also disrupts environmental and economic progress linked to EV adoption.