Congressman DeSaulnier Statement on Independent, Nonpartisan Agency Finding that the Trump Administration Broke the Law by Blocking Electric Vehicle Funding

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, made the following statement after the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent, nonpartisan government agency, issued a legal opinion finding that the Trump Administration violated the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 by illegally withholding funds for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.

“When the Trump Administration illegally suspended implementation of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program in February, I immediately called on the Secretary of Transportation to reverse this reckless decision that would set us back in the fight against climate change, surrender global competitiveness to China, and hurt American drivers’ bottom lines.

I am pleased the GAO has issued this finding that the Administration’s actions were not just foolish – they were illegal. Congress appropriated funding for the NEVI program and the Department of Transportation must implement it by immediately releasing the previously approved funds to the states.”