GAO: DOT illegally impounded $5B NEVI EV-charging program
GAO ruled the Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration violated the Impoundment Control Act by suspending disbursements of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program via a February 2025 memorandum. The White House Office of Management and Budget formally directed DOT to disregard the ruling.
Evidence
2 sources- 01https://www.gao.gov/legal/appropriations-law/impoundment-control-act
GAO
trust 0.90“GAO determined that DOT and FHWA ran afoul of the Impoundment Control Act when they suspended appropriations for the NEVI Formula Program. The program had set aside $5 billion in appropriations between fiscal 2022 and 2026.”
- 02https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/04/white-house-dot-gao-ev-funding-00384230
Federal Register
trust 0.98“OMB general counsel Mark Paoletta in a letter to DOT called the GAO ruling 'wrong and legally indefensible' — directing DOT to disregard the GAO finding.”
Across the aisle
Voices on this issue
Independent voices from different starting points, on the record about this kind of action. The framework grades behavior, not party — these quotes come from people who would say the same thing under any administration.
From the right
“Conservatism is supposed to be about institutions. If you are tearing the institutions down, you are not doing conservatism.”
Adam Kinzinger
Former Republican congressman from Illinois; House Jan 6 Committee member.
Kinzinger has restated this principle across multiple post-2021 appearances. Public statements (consolidated)
Follow the money
Money on this issue
Funds withheld, contracts awarded, contributions made, and lobbying disclosed in connection with this event. All figures are pulled from primary government records.
Withheld
Impoundment
- $5.0B
Department of Transportation / FHWA → States and grant recipients (NEVI Formula Program)
Statutory NEVI appropriation suspended via February 2025 memorandum; GAO ruled illegal under the Impoundment Control Act.
FY2022–FY2026 · GAO