Maryland’s attorney general joined a coalition of 17 states and the District of Columbia in a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to terminate billions in congressionally approved electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure funding.
In the lawsuit, AG Anthony G. Brown contends that the executive order issued by President Trump in January illegally halts funds allocated by Congress through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Maryland alone stands to lose $49 million in federal funds earmarked to expand the state’s electric vehicle charging network.
According to the legal filing, that funding would support the installation of 180 fast-charging ports and 1,611 Level two chargers, forming a backbone for cleaner transportation options across Maryland’s highway corridors and underserved communities.
“Charging stations and ports are critical to helping more families transition to cleaner vehicles that reduce pollution and support our environmental goals,” Brown said. “By unlawfully withholding $49 million in approved funding, the Trump administration is undermining efforts to expand our state’s charging network, reduce emissions, and build a healthier future for generations to come.”
The lawsuit also points out the explosion of EV adoption in the DMV region. Maryland reported about 15,000 EVs on the road in 2020; the number jumped to 133,000 by early 2025.
According to the lawsuit, the administration’s pause on the disbursement of funds—particularly those tied to the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program—exceeds presidential authority and violates Congressional intent. The NEVI program was created by the IIJA in 2022 and allocates $5 billion nationally to support the buildout of EV charging infrastructure across the U.S.
Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld emphasized the importance of restoring the funding swiftly.
“Maryland is committed to delivering its goal for its residents, businesses and tourists to have access to a reliable and abundant electric vehicle charging network from Mountain Maryland to the Eastern Shore,” he said. “The indefinite pause of the NEVI program is harming current and future EV drivers in Maryland.”
The legal complaint, filed by Attorney General Brown and his counterparts from states including California, New York, Illinois, and Washington, as well as D.C., seeks a court order compelling the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to restore the funds. The FHWA had previously notified states that it was revoking approvals necessary for disbursing NEVI funding following Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order, which directed all federal agencies to halt spending associated with the IIJA and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Brittany Baker of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network called the federal move a setback for climate equity.
“The climate situation has a deadline,” Baker said. “There are real differences between achieving our climate goals in the next five years and waiting 15 years to achieve them. The federal government cannot stop the clean energy transition, but what they can do is slow down our equity goals around clean energy. Ensuring that the build-out of EV infrastructure is equitable means making sure it’s happening in communities where it otherwise may not be happening as swiftly.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation has yet to comment on the case, and no ruling has been issued by the court to date.
Virginia is not among the plaintiffs in the suit.
