Attorney General Peter F. Neronha has joined a group of 17 attorneys general in a legal challenge against the Trump Administration's decision to terminate billions in funding allocated for electric vehicle infrastructure. The lawsuit aims to prevent what is described as an illegal termination of funds that were approved by Congress.
Neronha emphasized the necessity of electric vehicle infrastructure for reducing carbon emissions, stating, “Setting aside the fact that electric vehicle infrastructure is absolutely necessary to make any significant progress in our reduction of carbon emissions, the Trump Administration’s termination of these funds is illegal.” He added that the President should not interfere with congressionally-allocated funding and accused the administration of overstepping its authority.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was passed by Congress in 2022. It included $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI) to support states in developing electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
President Trump's executive order on January 20 directed federal agencies to halt fund disbursement related to both the IIJA and the Inflation Reduction Act, impacting NEVI funding. Following this directive, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) informed states it would revoke previously approved plans necessary for NEVI funding.
Rhode Island, which had completed "Phase 1" of its NEVI program and secured approval for FY25 funds last November, stands to lose $10 million intended for installing EV charging stations. An additional unobligated balance of $16.3 million designated for Rhode Island's NEVI Program has also been revoked by FHWA.
The coalition claims that these actions violate several legal principles including the Administrative Procedures Act, separation of powers, and the Take Care Clause. They seek a court order to counteract FHWA’s decisions and restore funding for electric vehicle infrastructure across participating states.
Joining Attorney General Neronha in this lawsuit are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.