A federal judge on Friday ruled President Donald Trump’s administration unlawfully suspended funding awarded to support the expansion of electric vehicle charger infrastructure, in a victory for 20
Democratic-led states that sued over the action.
U.S. District Judge Tana Lin in Seattle ruled in favor of 20 states as well as the District of Columbia, which had filed their lawsuit after the U.S. Department of Transportation in February suspended an EV charger infrastructure program enacted by Congress in 2021 under Democratic President Joe Biden.
Lin, a Biden appointee, said the DOT and the Federal Highway Administration “yanked the NEVI Formula Program’s cord out of the outlet,” without working within the statutory confines of established administrative law as required.
Environmental groups including the Sierra Club hailed the ruling, saying it ensures states can move forward with building infrastructure funded by the law. Lin’s order permanently bars the Transportation Department from taking away the states’ funds or canceling their previously approved implementation plans.
