Federal Judge Blocks DOT’s Withholding of $5B EV Charger Funds

A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Transportation unlawfully froze $5 billion allocated for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The funds, part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, were abruptly cut off under Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's administration without proper legal procedure.

U.S. District Judge Tana Lin issued a permanent injunction preventing the DOT from reclaiming funds or canceling approved projects. "The DOT yanked the NEVI Formula Program's cord out of the outlet," Lin stated, emphasizing the violation of administrative law. The decision allows states to proceed with planned EV charger deployments using congressionally approved funding.

Twenty Democratic-led states and Washington D.C. brought the lawsuit, with Washington Attorney General's office calling the ruling "a resounding win for the rule of law and clean energy investment." States like California, Colorado and Washington had already developed plans for the national charging network when access to funds was suspended.