On May 7, California and 16 other states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming that the federal government unlawfully withheld billions of dollars intended for the development of electric vehicle charging stations. This funding was originally designated for various states to enhance their electric vehicle infrastructure.
In February, the U.S. Department of Transportation suspended the electric vehicle charging station program and revoked approvals for state-related initiatives pending review. This action represents one of the early policies implemented by Trump after his return to the White House, aimed at reducing subsidies for electric vehicles and curtailing federal expenditures in this sector.
The electric vehicle charging station initiative is part of former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Senate Democrats have indicated that Donald Trump withheld over $3 billion from this program.
The lawsuit against the Trump administration was filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington State, with additional plaintiffs including the District of Columbia, New York, New Jersey, and Colorado. These states argue that Trump’s decision “will significantly undermine the ability of states to build charging infrastructure, which is crucial for increasing consumer adoption of electric vehicles, combating climate change, reducing harmful pollution, and supporting the green economy.” As of now, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has not commented on the matter.
Since taking office in January, Trump has taken steps to reverse the Biden administration’s efforts to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and address climate change. He has advocated for the reinstatement of coal-fired power plants and increased exploration and production of domestic oil.
Additionally, Trump has targeted electric vehicles by halting allocations from the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund intended for charging station installations, and has rescinded Biden’s directive that aimed for half of all new car sales in the U.S. to be electric vehicles by 2030.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/trump-administration-sued-by-17-states-over-suspension-of-electric-vehicle-charging-station-funding-2/
