Oregon Files Lawsuit To Secure $26 Million In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Funding Threatened By Trump Overreach

Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced yesterday that Oregon joined a 16-state coalition of attorneys general in filing a lawsuit that would halt the Trump Administration’s illegal termination of federal electric vehicle infrastructure funding.

The termination would result in Oregon losing $26,190,446 in electric vehicle infrastructure funding.

Oregon needs five times the number of EV chargers currently available to keep up with the anticipated demand by 2030.

Rayfield indicated that the lawsuit seeks to stop the Trump administration from illegally terminating billions in congressionally approved funding for electric vehicle infrastructure by requesting the courts check the president’s overreach.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), a.k.a. the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed by Congress in 2022, provides for the appropriation of $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI) to facilitate electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the states.

Putting this funding at risk, President Trump signed an executive order (EO) mandating all federal agencies to pause the disbursement of funds related to the IIJA and the Inflation Reduction Act- including NEVI funding on January 20.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) notified states in early February that it was revoking all previously approved plans to implement NEVI, a requirement for funding under IIJA—despite being tasked by Congress to fund NEVI.

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

Rayfield said. “If federal funding is delayed or cut off, it puts us at serious risk of falling behind on our climate goals and leaves drivers without the charging infrastructure they need.”