States Win Big: Judge Orders EV Charger Funds Unfrozen

A federal judge in Washington state made a big call. She told the Trump administration to start giving money to 14 states again. This money is for building electric vehicle (EV) chargers. The administration had frozen these funds, which were supposed to help states install high-speed chargers along highways. The judge's order is like a temporary win for the states. It's not the final decision, but it tells the administration to stop holding back the money. The judge even gave them seven days to appeal before they have to start distributing the funds again. If they don't appeal, the Department of Transportation has to release the money to the 14 states. The states involved in this lawsuit are happy with the judge's decision. They say the freeze on funds has messed up their plans and projects. It's not just about the chargers, though. The states argue that delaying these projects makes it harder for them to meet their goals for cutting carbon emissions. The Department of Transportation, however, sees it differently. They say the program under the Biden administration was a mess and didn't work well. They're still looking at their legal options and say they're working to reform the program. This whole situation is about more than just EV chargers. It's about the balance of power between different branches of government. Congress allocated this money to the states, and the administration is supposed to distribute it. The judge said the administration can't just freeze the funds because they don't like the program. The money in question is not like grant money that states have to compete for. It's formula funding, meaning each state gets a certain amount based on a calculation. The states followed all the steps and had their plans approved. So, they say, the administration can't just pull the rug out from under them. This isn't the only case like this. There are other disputes about the separation of powers between the three branches of government. The judge's ruling is a reminder that the executive branch can't just ignore the decisions made by Congress.