Filed Date: Dec. 16, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Congress established the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (“CFI”) Program in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“IIJA”), appropriating $2.5 billion to fund vehicle charging and alternative vehicle fueling infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Transportation (“USDOT”) and Federal Highway Administration (“FHWA”) have awarded hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of grants under the program. However, since January 20, 2025, USDOT and the FHWA have frozen the program by refusing to award new grants or remit additional funds to awardees beyond those previously obligated.
As a result of this freeze, on December 16, 2025, nonprofit environmental justice organizations Climate Solutions, Sierra Club, and Natural Resources Defense Council filed suit against the USDOT, FHWA, and their administrators in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The case was assigned to Judge Tana Lin.
The Plaintiffs alleged that Defendants’ indefinite freeze of the CFI Program is unlawful in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), the constitutional separation of powers, and the Executive Branch’s duty to faithfully execute the laws. They further alleged the actions are ultra vires. The Plaintiffs argued that in creating the CFI Program via the IIJA, “Congress provided a clear mandate to USDOT to expend specific sums of money in specific fiscal years for specific statutory purposes,” and by refusing to expend the funds, the Defendants exceeded their authority.
The Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief to restore the CFI Program and prevent Defendants from “prohibiting new obligations of, and from otherwise impeding, blocking, cancelling, or terminating, the distribution of CFI Program funds, through action or inaction.” They also sought attorneys fees.
The court issued a Joint Status Report Order on February 2, 2026. The parties were directed to confer and provide the court with a combined Joint Status Report and Discovery Plan by March 30, 2026.
The case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Madena Mustafa (2/3/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72045202/parties/climate-solutions-v-united-states-department-of-transportation/
Brown, Marvin C. (Washington)
Council, Natural Resources (Washington)
Fabish, Zachary Max (Washington)
Hasselman, Jan Erik (Washington)
Manjur, Joya (Washington)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72045202/climate-solutions-v-united-states-department-of-transportation/
Last updated Feb. 7, 2026, 12:15 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Dec. 16, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Nonprofit environmental justice organizations: Climate Solutions, Sierra Club, and Natural Resources Defense Council
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal Highway Administration (District of Columbia), Federal
United States Department of Transportation (District of Columbia), Federal
Sean Duffy (District of Columbia), Federal
Sean McMaster (District of Columbia), Federal
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Leave Act, 5 U.S.C. § 6329a
Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Western District of Washington 2:25-cv-02578
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Environmental Justice and Resources:
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority: