Federal judge orders Trump administration to release billions in EV charger funding in 14 states

The American boycott judge, Tana Lane, in part, granted a preliminary matter that sought to free the money approved by then President Joe Biden, who was blocked by the Trump administration earlier this year. Sixteen states and provinces of Colombia filed a lawsuit against this step, on the pretext that the administration had no power to prevent funds approved from congress. The program was set to allocate $ 5 billion over a five -year period for different countries, including an estimated $ 3.3 billion already provided.

Lin ordered the issuance of financing in 14 states, including in Arizona, California and New York. But she denied granting the preliminary diagram of DC, Minnesota and Vermont, saying they did not provide enough evidence that they would face “irreplaceable damage” if the money is not released immediately.

Lynn said that the Trump administration exceeded its constitutional authority when it froze the financing approved by Congress in 2021 as part of the partisan infrastructure law.

She wrote: “When the executive authority follows the will of the legislative branch, and when an administrative agency works in contrast to the law, the court lies with the responsibility of treating the situation and restoring the balance of the authority.”

It will enter into force on July 2 unless the Trump administration resumes. Federal Highway Administration did not immediately respond to an email request to comment on the decision.

In February, the Trump administration directed the United States to stop spending money in exchange for charging electric cars under the program. The move was part of a wider batch by the Republican President of the decline in environmental policies presented by his democratic predecessor.

The states that the Trump administration said that the decision to freeze financing stopped projects in the middle of the road, which requires immediate intervention in court.

“The Trump administration could not” reject the programs illegally. ”

“We are happy with the order of the day that obscures the unconstitutional administration’s attempt to do so, and California is looking to continue to defend strongly from this executive branch,” he said in a statement.

The Trump administration argued that it was working on new guidelines for the program and did not stop future funding until it was only.

The program was supposed to aim to reduce concerns about electric cars and build infrastructure along highway corridors first, then handle gaps in other places by simply fulfilling obligations on highways in the state.

Some of the states that operate under operational projects under the program have already been compensated by the federal funds during the Biden era. Others are still contracting their locations. Most of them have stopped their plans by the time when the Trump administration ordered the states to stop their spending. Regardless, installing charging and operating devices was a slow process with contracting challenges, allowing delay and complex electrical promotions.

The states were expected to fight against the efforts of the federal government to slow the country’s electric charger. For example, New York, which is part of the lawsuit, was granted more than $ 175 million of federal funds from the program, and state officials say $ 120 million is withheld by the Trump administration.