Twenty-eight House Democrats called on Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to overturn his department’s decision curtailing federal funds for electric vehicle charging, saying the move is unlawful and shows a “blatant disregard of Congress.”
The Federal Highway Administration announced last week that it was freezing future payouts from the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, which was intended to build a national network of fast EV chargers.
The FHWA, which reports to Duffy, said it was rescinding its guidance on how the funds can be spent, pending a review, and suspending state spending plans that it had previously approved. Those two actions violate the text of the bipartisan infrastructure law, and Duffy should “rethink and rescind” the decision, according to a letterfrom the Democrats.
“DOT’s direction that States may no longer obligate any apportioned funds directly contradicts the statute and the federal highway funding process, designed to provide certainty and stability in transportation construction,” says the letter led by Washington Rep. Rick Larsen, the ranking Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
