Trump administration pauses 2.5 billion dollar IIJA charging grant programme citing waste and fraud
By Eve
The US Department of Transportation has suspended the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure grant programme in February 2025, which allocated 2.5 billion dollars from fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to states, utilities and community organisations for corridor and community charging stations. The programme required at least 40 per cent of project funds to serve communities of colour under the Justice40 Initiative, with competitive scoring weighting equity considerations above safety and public access factors. The Trump administration cited waste, fraud and abuse in grants, including an EVequity Leadership project that received nearly 15 million dollars for California charging infrastructure prioritising Justice40 communities.
Why it matters: The pause halts a major federal funding stream for community charging deployment and signals a policy shift that may redirect capital toward different project selection criteria. CPOs and contractors pursuing CFI grants face immediate uncertainty over award timing and eligibility requirements.