On 23 January 2026, a court ruling was handed down that sent shockwaves through the US electric vehicle sector: a federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump’s administration had unlawfully suspended a funding programme for EV charging infrastructure. The ruling comes after months of legal battles between a coalition of states, led by Democrats, and the federal government. A standoff that is symptomatic of the Trump administration’s transport policy choices since its return to the White House.
A key programme cancelled
At the heart of the controversy lies the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) initiative, a federal plan launched in 2021 under President Joe Biden. The programme was worth $5 billion over five years, earmarked for building a national network of EV charging stations strategically located every 50 miles (80 km) along major motorways, as well as in urban and rural areas. This funding was intended to support the procurement, installation, maintenance and network integration of fast chargers, covering up to 80% of eligible costs in infrastructure plans submitted by the states. In theory, its aim was to remove one of the main barriers to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles: access to a dense and reliable charging infrastructure for all Americans.
However, despite this momentum, with the re-election of the Trump administration in 2025, the programme was abruptly put on hold. In a memo addressed to state transport departments, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) simply revoked the guidelines governing the implementation of NEVI, suspended the approval of infrastructure plans and, in effect, froze the spending of billions already approved.
A significant and welcome court ruling for electric mobility
It was precisely this suspension that was ruled unlawful by a federal court in Seattle. Judge Tana Lin found that the administration had acted “beyond the bounds of the law”, failing to follow the procedures laid down in the legislation passed by Congress.
This court ruling is good news for the US electric vehicle industry, as it now blocks any attempt to withdraw or withhold funds. It is therefore a victory for the states that brought the case and for environmental groups, who had condemned the freeze as a direct attack on federal climate policies.
Why this standoff is not merely an administrative formality
To understand what is at stake, this debate must be viewed within the broader context of the energy transition in the United States. America has long claimed a leading position in electric mobility, thanks in particular to the rise of companies such as Tesla, which quickly gained a clear technological lead over the competition in the 2010s and early 2020s. This same firm has also invested heavily in charging infrastructure, notably through the creation of the Supercharger network, one of the most widely used by EV manufacturers.
Under the Biden administration, this trend has gained significant political and financial momentum. Indeed, numerous initiatives have been launched, including the introduction of grants and federal tax credits, as well as requirements for the installation of public charging points. In terms of charging infrastructure, an ambitious plan has been set out: to install 500,000 public charging points by 2030.
According to official government figures, the number of charging stations had doubled during the early years of the Biden administration, with more than 9,200 charging points installed across 29 states.
But with Donald Trump’s return, US transport policy has taken a sharp U-turn. Not only has the NEVI been put on hold (in defiance of Congress’s wishes, according to the judges), but other measures have been reconsidered or simply scrapped. The administration has scrapped the target of ensuring that 50% of new vehicle sales are electric by 2030, a roadmap deemed too aggressive by certain industrial interests.
Beyond the rhetoric, the facts speak for themselves: federal tax credits for the purchase of electric vehicles (up to $7,500 for new vehicles and $4,000 for used ones) were scrapped ahead of schedule, and federal emissions standards – which had been significantly tightened under Biden – have been relaxed or scrapped. Together, these decisions have slowed the uptake of electric vehicles, even though the market continues to grow (nearly 1.3 million EVs sold in 2025).
Obviously, the problem is that the suspension of the NEVI scheme prevents Americans from considering the purchase of a clean vehicle since, as we noted earlier, easy access to a charging point is one of the main obstacles. And for a country that aimed to drastically reduce its CO₂ emissions and regain the technological initiative in the face of Chinese and European competition, this change of course could have lasting effects.
A ruling that turns the tide
The judge’s ruling represents a victory for the states and environmental groups, but it is in fact the starting point for a new political round. Indeed, the decision no longer rests solely with the White House. The NEVI remains enshrined in federal law, and the ruling obliges the executive to lift its suspension. In the long term, only Congress will be able to truly challenge this programme, either by amending it or by cutting funding during the next budget votes. Until then, the states are waiting; the funds exist and must be made available again.
The United States has once again demonstrated that it can be a pioneer in the electric vehicle sector. It remains to be seen whether it will maintain this advantage in a world where the transition to low-carbon mobility is already well underway.
