Attorney General Kris Mayes has joined a lawsuit aimed at preventing the termination of federal funding for electric vehicle infrastructure. The lawsuit targets an executive order signed by President Trump, which mandates a pause on disbursement of funds related to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act, affecting the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI).
Arizona could lose $48 million in funding for electric vehicle infrastructure if the courts do not intervene. "Arizona will lose nearly $50 million in critical funding unless the courts block yet another illegal action by the Trump administration," said Attorney General Mayes. "I will not stop fighting to protect Arizona from the flood of illegal and unconstitutional actions by President Trump."
The IIJA, passed in 2022, allocated $5 billion for NEVI to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure across states. However, following Trump's executive order on January 20, federal agencies were instructed to halt fund disbursements associated with these acts. Subsequently, the Federal Highway Administration informed states that previously approved plans under NEVI would be revoked.
The legal action initiated by Attorney General Mayes includes participation from attorneys general of California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, and Vermont. They seek a court order against what they consider unlawful actions by FHWA and aim to restore funding for state electric vehicle infrastructure projects.
Copies of the complaint and proposed preliminary injunction are available for review.