States sue Trump administration over $3 billion in blocked EV charging grants
California and 15 other states sued the Trump administration on Wednesday, saying the federal government was illegally withholding billions of dollars awarded to states for building electric-vehicle charging stations.
The U.S. Transportation Department in February suspended the EV charging program and rescinded approval of state plans pending a review.
Senate Democrats said President Donald Trump was withholding more than $3 billion from the program, which was approved as part of former President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act.
The lawsuit, joined by the District of Columbia, New York, New Jersey and Colorado among others, was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington State.
The states said the administration's decision "will devastate the ability of states to build the charging infrastructure necessary for making EVs accessible to more consumers, combating climate change, reducing other harmful pollution, and supporting the states’ green economies."
A spokesperson for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy did not immediately comment.
In February, a group representing automakers and electric vehicle charging companies called on the transportation department to restore funding quickly.
Since his inauguration in January, Trump has moved to reverse Biden administration policies promoting a transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and battling climate change.
Trump has advocated for a return to coal-fired power plants and an increase in domestic oil exploration and production.
As part of his stance, the president has taken aim at electric vehicles, halting distribution of government funds for vehicle charging stations from the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund.
Trump revoked a 2021 order by Biden that sought to ensure half of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. were electric by 2030.
He called for an end to state efforts to adopt zero-emission vehicle rules and a halt in funding for high-speed rail in California.
Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and Cynthia Osterman