Donald Trump Hit by Lawsuit From 17 Attorneys General
Seventeen attorneys general have sued the Trump administration over its halt to funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure authorized by Congress.Summary
A coalition of seventeen attorneys general, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging the unlawful withholding of funds allocated by Congress for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The lawsuit focuses on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) suspension of approvals for new funding under the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program and the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator Program, both established by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The states argue that the administration’s actions constitute an unlawful impoundment of congressionally appropriated funds, violating the separation of powers. They contend that the executive branch lacks the authority to indefinitely withhold funds mandated by Congress. This legal challenge follows a previous successful injunction against the administration’s suspension of funding for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.
The plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction to compel the administration to resume approving funding and to prevent future withholding of allocated funds. The case raises broader questions about the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch, the reliability of federal grant programs, and the legal framework for resolving funding disputes. President Trump has publicly criticized federal EV charger funding as a “waste of taxpayer dollars,” while Attorney General Bonta has characterized the administration’s actions as “unconstitutional” and “reckless.” The outcome of the case could significantly impact how future administrations manage federally funded programs.
(Source：Newsweek)