LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — Potholes can wait. For Attorney General Dana Nessel, the real emergency is not enough electric car chargers, and she’s now suing the Trump administration to keep federal funds flowing.

In an August 4 press release, Nessel announced Michigan had joined a multi-state lawsuit against the Trump White House for freezing billions in electric vehicle infrastructure funds previously approved by Congress. 

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At stake is $5 billion from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, including $87 million earmarked for Michigan. Roughly $29 million of Michigan’s share is currently frozen after federal highway officials, following Trump’s January order to pause Biden-era spending, rescinded state plans and froze new project approvals. 

Nessel called the move unlawful and joined 18 other Democratic attorneys general, along with the Democratic governors of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, in a lawsuit alleging the administration overstepped its authority.

“The Trump Administration’s decision … jeopardizes Michigan’s EV infrastructure,” Nessel said. “I will continue working to protect this critical funding and the future of transportation in our state.” 

The suit argues the Trump White House is defying the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Biden in November 2021, which created the NEVI program to build out a nationwide EV charging network. Michigan’s first federally supported station became operational earlier this year.

Trump, for his part, has labeled the network a “waste of taxpayer money” and vowed to “terminate the Green New Deal.”