California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington has issued a final ruling against the Trump Administration regarding the withholding of funds for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The decision concludes multistate litigation and ensures that California will receive nearly all funding allocated under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has now approved close to $379 million in funding for California, which had previously been blocked. This comes after an earlier court order in June halted the Trump Administration’s attempt to withhold these funds.
Attorney General Rob Bonta stated, “After several attempts by the Trump Administration to unlawfully block funding for electric vehicle infrastructure, we have secured a full victory in court, guaranteeing $379 million in funding that will help ensure Californians can access clean, affordable transportation. This funding supports our continued commitment to fight air pollution and climate change and empower Californians to innovate and create clean jobs. We will continue to oppose Trump’s unlawful attempts to block Congressionally-appropriated funding and to protect innovation and our environment.”
Governor Gavin Newsom commented on the outcome: “President Trump tried to kill billions in funding for our national EV charging infrastructure, and he lost. California sued, California won, and now states across the country can create good-paying jobs, cut pollution, and build the charging network we need to beat China in the global race for clean vehicles. Californians want EVs, and we’re committed to building the infrastructure to make that happen. The fourth-largest economy in the world isn’t backing down — California is open for business.”
California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said, “This decision will help us fulfill our mission to build a cleaner and more reliable transportation system for all travelers. It’s in alignment with Governor Newsom’s steadfast commitment to combat the climate change crisis and stand up for every Californian.”
California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild added, “Electric vehicles are here to stay — here in California, across the nation, and around the world — and the NEVI program is an important part of the strategy to meet our growing demand for charging infrastructure. We applaud the Western District’s ruling and look forward to continue building out a robust, reliable, accessible EV charging network for all Californians.”
Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, in 2021. The law included $5 billion dedicated through NEVI for establishing a national network of EV charging stations across states.
On his first day as president, Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing federal agencies not to release certain funds appropriated by IIJA—including those designated for EV infrastructure—resulting in FHWA halting disbursement of billions intended by Congress.
