ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – The Ritenour School District received a new electric bus on Tuesday, but its plans to replace its aging fleet with EV buses is now in jeopardy.

The district received a $9.5 million federal grant to replace its fleet of 24 buses. So far, it has used $1.2 million to buy three new buses, along with charging infrastructure for them.

However, the district can no longer access that money since U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order freezing all funding connected to the project.

“There’s definitely frustration that is involved,” said Dr. Chris Kilbride, superintedent of the Ritenour School District. “But we’re hopeful, very hopeful that this project will receive the remainder of our 21 buses, which are right now in Litchfield, Illinois, 52 miles away from the students and staff of the Ritenour School District.”

Kilbride says the district is now trying to work through this hurdle in a rational, well-reasoned manner.