Christopher Schuler, christopher.schuler@sierraclub.org
Oakland, CA — The Sierra Club has filed its latest FOIA-related lawsuit against the Trump Administration, this time seeking to hold the Department of Transportation accountable for its failure to respond to two Freedom of Information Act requests for DOT’s records related to withholding of federal funds and communications with external parties. This lawsuit is part of the Sierra Club’s robust FOIA accountability effort to help the American people see clearly what is happening in President Trump’s government agencies.
In addition to ignoring the deadlines mandated by FOIA, DOT has not produced any documents or provided any explanation for withholding the requested information. Since DOT has violated the law, the Sierra Club brings this lawsuit to hold DOT accountable and obtain an order requiring the agency to respond to its requests. Sierra Club is represented in this case by its own Environmental Law Program.
“Every American should be concerned that President Trump’s Department of Transportation is illegally withholding information the public deserves to see about why it blocked funding for critical programs addressing the climate crisis, reducing harmful pollution, and supporting our clean energy future,” said Katherine García, Director of the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All Campaign. “The administration is hiding the ball because they know this information will help Sierra Club’s efforts to restore the funds. The Sierra Club is committed to exposing the truth and demonstrating why funds for these critical programs should be restored.”
In February and March, the Sierra Club submitted two FOIA requests to the agency related to DOT’s freezing of funds appropriated by Congress for critical programs: the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) grant program, and the Low-Carbon Transportation Materials grants program. Despite court orders enjoining the freeze for certain funds and programs, much of the funding has remained inaccessible—disrupting government operations that protect public health and the environment.
Separately, in May, Sierra Club and its partners requested to join a 17-state lawsuit against the Trump administration to restore $2.7 billion in committed funds for electric vehicle charging. This litigation has been successful in restoring funds for some of the state plaintiffs. Yesterday, the court allowed the public interest organizations to join that lawsuit, enabling Sierra and its allies to fight to unlock upwards of $1.8 billion in still-frozen funds.
“The Trump Administration is intentionally keeping the American people in the dark about its dangerous decisions to decimate the federal government and programs that protect our health and safety,” García continued. “The public has a clear right to know who at DOT is making these harmful decisions and why– but the Trump Administration is doing everything they can to obscure the truth. Sierra Club will continue to file FOIA requests and lawsuits to ensure the truth comes out.”
Additional Information:
In addition to this complaint, the Sierra Club has filed lawsuits against the Trump Administration’s Office of Management and Budget for failing to respond to requests on records and communications related to freezing Congressionally appropriated funding, the Department of the Interior for failing to respond to requests on external communications for key Interior staff, including Secretary Doug Burgum, acting assistant secretaries, and designated DOGE staff; as well as the Department of Energy, for failing to respond to requests for calendars and correspondence from 30 new political appointees, including Secretary Chris Wright and embedded DOGE staffers, among others.
The Sierra Club and dozens of other organizations, news outlets, and individuals have also filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking information regarding the Trump Administration’s use of presidential exemptions that will allow polluting facilities to avoid air pollution regulations, like Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), for up to several years. The Trump Administration’s EPA has not released all the requested information for the 47 FOIA requests.
During Trump’s first Administration, the Sierra Club’s ELP FOIA work was crucial in exposing numerous scandals. Most notably, the Sierra Club’s efforts helped lead to the resignation of Trump’s first EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt.
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.