California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a preliminary injunction from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington that prevents the Trump Administration from withholding billions in funding intended for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This decision comes after bipartisan support in Congress for these funds, which were approved as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Attorney General Bonta stated, “It is no secret that the Trump Administration is beholden to the fossil fuel agenda. The administration cannot dismiss programs illegally, like the bipartisan Electric Vehicle Infrastructure formula program, just so that the President’s Big Oil friends can continue basking in record-breaking profits.” He expressed satisfaction with the court’s order and affirmed California’s commitment to defending against what he described as executive overreach.
The IIJA, passed by Congress in 2021, included $5 billion for a national network of EV charging stations under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program. However, an executive order issued on President Trump’s first day directed federal agencies to halt releasing certain funds appropriated through this act, including those designated for NEVI.
In response to this directive, Attorney General Bonta joined forces with California Governor Gavin Newsom and other state entities to lead a coalition of 17 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against these actions by the Trump Administration. The recent court ruling temporarily blocks these actions while litigation continues.
A copy of the court order is available for public viewing.
