Victory: Lawsuit protects $5 billion federal EV charging program 

We’re proud to be part of the group of nonprofits and states that challenged the Trump administration’s unlawful freeze of a $5 billion federal initiative to build reliable, high-speed electric vehicle charging infrastructure along America’s highways — and won. 

A federal judge’s order now permanently bars the U.S. Department of Transportation from withdrawing states’ funds, canceling implementation plans, or otherwise interfering with the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, which was established by Congress in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

“For people across the nation, this decision clears the way for long-delayed EV charging to finally be built,” said Megan Kimball, a senior attorney with SELC. “NEVI-funded stations will make long trips and everyday travel safer and more reliable — especially in places that have too often been passed over for infrastructure investment.” 

Why it matters 

Transportation is the number one source of climate pollution in the South and the country. If we’re going to address climate change, we need clean transportation that is accessible and affordable. EVs that reduce pollution in our communities and reduce reliance on gasoline are a key piece of the puzzle.

 Relief granted by the court in State of Washington v. U.S. Department of Transportation will directly improve lives by: 

• Allowing long-delayed charging projects to move forward, 
• Making charging networks safer and more reliable, 
• Enabling longer-distance EV travel, 
• Expanding access to lower-cost EV charging, and 
• Reducing harmful air pollution in the communities where people live and work. 

What happened? 

The case was originally brought by 17 states, led by Washington, Colorado, and California, in May 2025.  

The Sierra Club, NRDC, Climate Solutions, Plug In America, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, West End Revitalization Association, and CleanAIRE NC joined the case as plaintiff-intervenors, particularly to protect charging access in the nearly three dozen states that did not join the lawsuit. 

SELC represented Plug In America, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, West End Revitalization Association, and CleanAIRE NC. 

This ruling affirms that communities overburdened by transportation pollution deserve investment, not delay.

Jeff Robbins, CleanAIRE NC Executive Director

Last June, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction that ordered the lifting of the freeze of roughly $1 billion in NEVI funds for 14 states. 

Following that preliminary ruling, the Trump administration restarted the program in August, but has continued to put up other roadblocks to access funds for EV charging infrastructure. 

“A victory for environmental justice” 

Ayo Wilson, co-director of the West End Revitalization Association, is celebrating the legal win as “a victory for environmental justice.” 

“[The ruling] protects EV charging nationwide and affirms that communities — especially communities of color long overburdened by pollution — are not sacrifice zones for fossil fuel profits,” said Wilson. “We thank the court for ending this unlawful attack and standing up for the health of American communities.” 

NEVI-funded charging is critical for ensuring that access to clean transportation reaches underserved and historically left-behind communities.