Press Release  AG Campbell Challenges Trump Administration’s Illegal Attempt To Withhold Billions In Funding For Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Boston — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today joined a coalition of 17 states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for unlawfully suspending two bipartisan grant programs totaling nearly $2 billion dollars for electric vehicle charging infrastructure that would reduce pollution, expand access to clean vehicles, and create thousands of green jobs.  

Without any explanation or notice, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has quietly refused to approve any new funding under two electric vehicle charging infrastructure programs created in the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA): the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program (CFI) and the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator (Accelerator) Program (together, the EV Charging Infrastructure Programs). AG Campbell and the coalition allege that these unexplained and secretive actions violate constitutional requirements and statutory mandates to carry out these programs. 

“The Trump Administration cannot disregard its responsibility to spend money appropriated by Congress simply because they don’t like the program being funded,” said AG Campbell. “This grant will help Massachusetts meet our clean air and climate goals and make electric vehicles more accessible and convenient for residents. I will continue to hold this Administration accountable for their unlawful actions that threaten our economic progress and environmental future.”  

In 2022, Congress passed the IIJA, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The CFI and Accelerator programs are five-year programs created by IIJA for building or repairing EV chargers. USDOT and the Federal Highway Administration have refused all new obligations of funds under both programs since the spring of 2025.  

In mid-January 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) was awarded $14.4 million in CFI grants for building new EV charging infrastructure across Massachusetts, enabling the implementation of approximately 458 Level 2 charging ports (for fast electric charging) and 14 Level 3 charging points (for even faster charging, including for heavy-duty electric vehicles) at approximately 30 locations. These locations would provide charging for commuters during the day and be accessible for neighborhood use during off-hours.  

As a result of the Trump Administration’s refusal to spend the funds appropriated by Congress for the CFI grants, none of the $14.4 million of MassDOT’s CFI award has been obligated to date. This delay threatens the success of Massachusetts’s efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants that threaten the health and wellbeing of residents. 

The complaint filed today alleges that the Trump Administration’s refusal to spend the funds that Congress appropriated for EV infrastructure is unlawful because it violates the separation of powers and violates the Administrative Procedure Act. The programs were created by statute, and federal agencies have a duty to faithfully execute those statutes. The complaint asks the court to declare that the defendants’ actions are unlawful and to permanently stop the Administration from withholding these funds.  

Joining AG Campbell in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin and Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. 

###