POLITICO Energy Why Trump and the GAO are at odds over his EV funding pause
Jun 5, 2025
A legal showdown brews as the White House clashes with the Government Accountability Office over Trump's freeze on electric vehicle charging funds. With $5 billion at stake, states relying on this funding face uncertain futures. Additionally, a Congressional Budget Office report projects a staggering $2.4 trillion increase in the federal deficit due to recent congressional actions. The implications of these financial maneuvers and their impact on EV infrastructure could reshape the landscape of sustainable transportation.
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Trump's Illegal EV Funding Pause
- The Trump administration illegally paused $5 billion in funding for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program despite congressional approval.
- This funding is crucial for building a nationwide EV charging backbone, easing range anxiety for EV owners.
Trump Challenges Spending Law
- The Trump administration argues the president can freeze spending authorized by Congress, challenging a 1974 law mandating expenditure.
- States see this as a threat to federal formula funding, raising federal-state tensions.
States Fight Funding Freeze Legally
- States opposing the funding freeze have already initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration.
- Legal resolution is expected as the case may escalate potentially to the Supreme Court.