Driving the news: A federal judge has ordered President Trump to release billions in EV charger funding to 14 states, ruling that the administration illegally froze money that Congress had already approved.
For context: Judge Tana Lin partially granted an injunction after 16 states sued over Trump's February directive to halt EV charging spending.
The order covers major states like California, Arizona, and New York but excludes D.C., Minnesota, and Vermont for not proving they'd face immediate harm.
The program was supposed to distribute $5 billion over five years, with about $3.3 billion already allocated before Trump stepped in.
Why it matters: The judge said Trump crossed a constitutional line by freezing funds that Congress approved back in 2021 as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The February halt had left charging projects stuck midstream while states waited for new federal guidance. States like New York have $120 million tied up from their $175 million allocation, making it hard to keep contractors and timelines on track.
What we're watching: The order takes effect July 2 unless Trump appeals, which seems likely given his broader push to roll back Biden environmental policies.
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