AG Kaul Sues to Stop Illegal Termination of Federal Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Funding

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul today announced that he joined 16 other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from illegally terminating billions in congressionally approved funding for electric vehicle infrastructure. Without court action, Wisconsin stands to lose $62.65 million in electric vehicle infrastructure funding, impacting local jobs and businesses with grant awards to build charging stations.

“In this attempt to undo progress, the Trump administration is again flouting the law—in this case, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said AG Kaul. “The president can’t cancel part of a law by fiat.”

If the order is not blocked, Wisconsin’s efforts to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure will be delayed or canceled, threatening jobs and economic activity in the state. This could impact Wisconsin businesses that hold grant awards to build electric vehicle charging stations at locations such as gas stations, restaurants, and hotels.

Funding reductions could also impact months of planning and stall progress in reducing pollution, supporting clean energy, and making electric vehicles a more practical option for drivers across the state.

In 2022, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. One provision of the IIJA appropriated $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, or NEVI, to facilitate electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the states.

On January 20, President Trump signed an executive order that mandated all federal agencies to pause disbursement of funds related to the IIJA and the Inflation Reduction Act, including NEVI funding. Despite being tasked by Congress to fund NEVI, the Federal Highway Administration notified states in early February that the agency was revoking all previously approved plans to implement NEVI, a requirement for funding under IIJA.

In Wisconsin, funding from the NEVI program is intended to help build a network of electric vehicle charging stations along major highways and in Wisconsin communities. However, because of the federal funding freeze, Wisconsin stands to lose access to approximately $62.65 million in funding.

The lawsuit seeks a court order against FHWA’s unlawful actions, and a restoration of the electric vehicle infrastructure funding for the states.

Joining AG Kaul in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.

A copy of the complaint is available here. A copy of the motion for preliminary injunction is available here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.