Trump admin stops illegal freeze of $5B EV charger funds after losing in court

The Trump administration, after months of withholding $5 billion in federal funds designated for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, has reversed its freeze following a court ruling. A coalition of states sued over the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program funding freeze, and a judge issued an injunction in June against the administration’s halt. The Department of Transportation (DOT), led by Sean Duffy, had criticized states for slow spending, noting that as of May, 84% of the funds remained unallocated and only a few dozen chargers had been installed. The DOT initially justified the freeze as a “review process” to align the program with administration priorities. The new guidance issued by the DOT simplifies the review process for states to access the funds, removing several previously required conditions. Notably, states no longer need to consider consumer protections, emergency evacuation plans, or environmental siting before beginning construction. Requirements to build a certain percentage of chargers in rural, underserved, or disadvantaged communities have been eliminated. Additionally