Photo by Eliza Earle
The Trump administration is trying to stall the clean energy economy and the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) specifically—attacking clean car standards, freezing billions of dollars, and vowing to reverse climate progress. But we’re not backing down.
Today, the Sierra Club and our partners joined 16 states and the District of Columbia in federal court litigation challenging the Trump administration’s unlawful efforts to freeze billions in federal funds—money intended to build the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) network, a backbone of fast, reliable EV chargers along our nation’s highways. This game-changing program is crucial to the EV transition, empowering drivers to take long trips in clean electric cars and accelerating the shift to a zero-emission future.
Trump's freeze is causing real-world harm: it's holding up shovel-ready projects, costing jobs, and denying Americans access to clean vehicles–all while our global competitors surge ahead. Our lawsuit highlights the voices of those counting on the NEVI program: EV drivers who need reliable charging, rural families with limited options, communities burdened by vehicle pollution, and advocates fighting to ensure public investments reach the places that need them most.
This is what we’re fighting for:
🔌 EV Access for All: NEVI dollars were already driving innovation and investment in every state. The robust charging network we’re building will enable Americans to drive electric.
🚗 Cleaner Commutes, Healthier Communities: A delayed EV charging buildout means dirtier air, continued dependence on fossil fuels, and harmful climate pollution. We can’t afford to fall behind.
⚠️ Curbing An Abuse of Power: Trump’s NEVI freeze is unlawful and reckless — a clear overreach that blocks progress and violates the will of Congress and the people.
But this lawsuit is just the first step. We’re using every tool we have to keep progress moving and show how states can lead even as the federal government is retreating. Here’s our playbook:
1. Build the Backbone: EV Charging and Utility Investment
While we fight to restore federal funding, we’re doubling down in the states—advocating at public utility commissions to secure investments in charging infrastructure, fleet electrification support, and other foundational EV programs, including smart charging that connects clean vehicles to clean power.
Over the past decade, the Sierra Club has secured over $5 billion in utility investments for EV charging across 25 states. Now, we’re laser-focused on making sure the national NEVI charging network gets built—no matter what—while also expanding access to charging where people need it most: at homes, apartments, and workplaces. Additionally, we’re driving the completion of Phase 1 of the Zero Emission Freight Corridor strategy, providing the essential infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty trucks to charge whenever and wherever they need to.
2. Power Up the Grid for the EV Transition
To electrify everything, we need a grid that’s flexible, scalable, and ready to respond to growing demand. That’s why we’re leading efforts to modernize utility grid planning and upgrade policies—enabling faster, more adaptive expansion to accommodate EV charging needs. Across the country, we’re advancing innovative regulatory solutions to accelerate grid buildout and streamline the interconnection process for charging infrastructure, ensuring the grid can keep pace with rapid EV adoption.
3. Tackle the Freight Problem at the Source
Vehicle emissions don’t just come from personal cars—they pour out of warehouse hubs, ports, rail yards, and highways crowded with diesel trucks. We helped pioneer the nation’s first indirect source rules in Southern California and have pushed for strong warehouse ordinances in the Bay Area. Now we’re advocating across the U.S., scaling policies that cut freight pollution and electrify goods movement in places that need it most.
4. Hold the Line on Clean Cars and Trucks—and Raise the Bar
In the face of escalating political and legal attacks, we’re defending the nation’s strongest clean vehicle standards–the Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and Low NOx rules–which have been adopted by California and many other states.
The same day we filed our NEVI lawsuit, Senate Republicans pushed through unprecedented votes in an unlawful attempt to strip states’ authority to enforce these rules, all at the behest of fossil fuel lobbyists and automakers like GM and Toyota who’d rather gut our future than let America lead in clean technology. This is just the latest chapter in a decade of intensifying attacks on state climate leadership—and like the rest, we’ll fight it tooth and nail.
In the states, we’ll battle to keep these rules on the books, holding automakers accountable and accelerating the shift to cleaner cars and trucks—even in the face of Congress’s illegal votes. We’ll bring the full force of our grassroots power to defend these critical protections, all while working to build the next generation of clean vehicle policies.
5. Power the Movement—And the States That Can Lead
Progress under Trump won’t come from Washington—it will come from the states. That’s why we’re fighting to empower and pressure states to reclaim their leadership in the EV transition. It means passing stronger policies and defending existing ones like New York’s successful congestion pricing program.
States must also invest and expand public transportation and walking and biking infrastructure so residents have a suite of clean mobility options to choose from. The Sierra Club is supporting the critical work of the Clean RIDES coalition which is focused on pushing state Departments of Transportation to ensure their investments are funding projects that are reducing climate emissions.
We are advocating for states to pick up the baton and fully realize the clean energy vision in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, making sure these landmark laws are implemented to their fullest potential.
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The Trump administration is doing everything it can to reverse progress, but we are pushing back. With staff, volunteers, and members across the country, the Sierra Club is organized for this moment: to fight and to win.
We will continue to hold the Trump administration accountable and ensure that clean transportation progress isn’t stalled. We will continue building towards a future where all Americans have access to clean, reliable, and convenient transportation options.
This is our moment to protect the future of clean transportation.