NY AG Sues DOT Over Illegal EV Funding Cut

New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a scathing lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Secretary Sean Duffy, charging them with illegal actions that halted critical funding for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.

The lawsuit, filed by AG James alongside 16 other state attorneys general, targets the DOT’s move to cut off billions in federal funds intended to support states’ efforts to establish a national EV charging network. The action followed an Executive Order signed on January 29 calling for the elimination of a non-existent ‘electric vehicle mandate,’ which resulted in the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) revoking funding allocated by Congress.

Attorney General James and her coalition argue that this move to freeze federal funds is not only illegal but also poses significant risks to public health and environmental sustainability. They claim that these actions阻碍了纽约在建设电动汽车基础设施和应对气候变化方面的进展，并危及了数十个电动汽车项目。

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) allocated $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, intended to fund state plans for EV charging infrastructure. AG James asserts that Congress’s explicit appropriation of these funds makes them mandatory, and over 150 plans have already been approved by the FHWA.

New York alone has been awarded over $175 million from the NEVI program, with $120 million currently being withheld. These funds have supported the construction of 11 charging stations across the state, with 12 more in development. The funding freeze threatens ongoing proposals for additional EV infrastructure in New York City and other regions.

AG James and the coalition are seeking a court order declaring the DOT’s actions unlawful and unconstitutional, as well as ordering the DOT to cease its attempts to withhold electric vehicle infrastructure funds. The lawsuit highlights a brewing conflict over the administration’s stance on climate change and its impact on environmental policy and public health.

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