U.S. Judge Blocks Trump-Era Halt on EV Charger Funding to States

A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from withholding billions in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure funding from 14 states, including California, New York, Illinois, and Washington. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit alleging the federal government illegally froze grants for building EV charging stations.

U.S. District Judge Tana Lin, based in Seattle, ruled Tuesday that the states were likely to prevail in their case. The EV funding, initially part of President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, was suspended in February by the Transportation Department, which also rescinded previously approved state spending plans.

Judge Lin noted that states had already committed significant resources and formed public-private partnerships based on the expectation of federal support. She said the abrupt policy shift caused harm, as states had launched construction bids and secured EV charger sites before the federal reversal.

While the ruling affects 14 states, it excludes the District of Columbia, Minnesota, and Vermont, which also sued but did not show evidence of immediate harm. The decision will take effect in seven days, allowing the Trump administration time to appeal.

The states argue the funding freeze undermines efforts to expand EV accessibility, combat climate change, reduce pollution, and promote green economic growth. The White House and legal teams for the states declined to comment immediately.

This ruling is a significant development in the broader national debate over clean energy investments and federal authority to reverse previously approved climate infrastructure initiatives. It underscores the legal and political tensions surrounding EV adoption and environmental policy shifts between administrations.