A US District Judge in Seattle has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from withholding funds designated for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in 14 states.

Judge Tana Lin said the states are likely to win their case, which claims the government unlawfully withheld billions already allocated for EV chargers.

The Transportation Department had paused the program in February 2025, citing a pending review and rescinded state plan approvals.

The ruling does not apply to the District of Columbia, Minnesota, and Vermont, which also filed lawsuits but did not demonstrate immediate harm from the funding suspension.

This case highlights continued legal battles over federal EV infrastructure support.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ The legal precedent stretches beyond just EV chargers

This case highlights a fundamental separation of powers issue that extends far beyond electric vehicles.

The Government Accountability Office had already ruled that the Transportation Department violated the Impoundment Control Act by withholding congressionally appropriated funds for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program 1.

Similar disputes over executive authority to withhold congressionally approved funding have occurred throughout U.S. history, with the courts consistently affirming that the executive branch cannot unilaterally block funding authorized by Congress 2.

The judge’s emphasis on “restoring the balance of power between legislative and executive branches” signals the constitutional significance of this case beyond just the immediate EV infrastructure implications 3.

This ruling follows a pattern where federal courts have checked executive actions that attempt to redirect or withhold funding without congressional approval, reinforcing the principle that spending power rests primarily with Congress.

2️⃣ The infrastructure funding gap threatens U.S. EV adoption trajectory

The $5 billion NEVI program represents the largest federal investment in EV charging infrastructure to date, designed to address one of the primary barriers to EV adoption in the U.S. 4.

The U.S. currently lags significantly behind global EV adoption rates, with EVs accounting for only 6% of U.S. car sales compared to 14% globally in 2022 5.