A coalition of 17 state attorneys general and one state filed a lawsuit on Tuesday seeking to restore federal funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, arguing that the Trump administration has unlawfully halted approval of new projects authorized by Congress.
The lawsuit alleges that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has stopped approving funding under two EV charging programs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed during the Biden administration. The programs include the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program, which provides grants for building a national EV charging network, and the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator Program, which supports the repair and upgrade of public chargers.
See also: U.S. Senators Accuse Trump Administration of Withholding EV Charging Funds
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the two programs together represent about $3 billion in nationwide funding. Speaking at a news conference, Bonta said the administration’s actions have forced states to pause charging projects already underway and delay further construction.
According to the complaint, the DOT has “quietly refused to approve” new funding under the programs since the spring of 2025. The plaintiffs argue that withholding congressionally appropriated funds violates the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers.
The lawsuit is being led by the attorneys general of California, Colorado and Washington, and also includes Arizona, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin, along with the state of Pennsylvania. California Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Department of Transportation and the California Energy Commission are also named as plaintiffs. The case was filed in a U.S. district court in Washington state.
This marks the second legal challenge by the coalition over EV charger funding. In May, the same group sued the DOT over its decision to withhold $5 billion allocated through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, which was intended to support a nationwide charging network.
See also: U.S. Issues New Guidance for $5 Billion EV Charging Fund After Legal Dispute
That earlier lawsuit followed a DOT announcement in February that it would end the program in response to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office, aimed at rolling back policies favoring electric vehicles. In June, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in the NEVI case, ruling that the funding freeze was unlawful and restoring about $1 billion for the states involved.
In the latest complaint, the states are asking the court to permanently bar the administration from withholding EV infrastructure funds approved by Congress.
