Seventeen US states are taking legal action against President Donald Trump’s administration, accusing it of unlawfully withholding billions of dollars meant for building electric vehicle ( EV ) charging infrastructure, reported AFP. The petition, announced on Wednesday, claims the federal government has no authority to prevent state from using funds currently allocated by Congress. The money —$ 5 billion scatter over five ages— was approved under President Joe Biden as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Of this, around$ 3.3 billion had already been made available to state before the Trump administration issued a law in February asking them to quit using the money. The complaint is led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alongside peers in Colorado and Washington. Bonta criticised the choice as a social move to honour the oil business, calling it “illegal” and dangerous to weather development. Some states had now begun using the money, with some reimbursed for their Vehicle charging jobs. Others, like New York, claim large amounts are currently frozen — in New York’s case, about$ 120 million of the$ 175 million awarded. The petition reflects growing resistance to the Trump administration’s broader work to move back climate policies. These include pulling out of the Paris Agreement, reversing Biden’s EV target, and supporting fossil fuel growth. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the money ice “illegal” and warned it could cost hundreds of work and squeeze development to other countries. He urged the chairman to honour the bipartisan legislation instead of politicising fresh energy.
