Following the president’s return to the White House, the Trump administration suspended the $5bn Electric Vehicle Charging Program, further challenging environmental policies by ordering states in the United States to stop investment under the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) directed states not to utilize any Biden administration funding for EV charging infrastructure in a document sent to state transportation directors on Thursday.

In the memo, Emily Biondi, the associate administrator for planning, environment, and real estate at FHWA, stated that the new administration of the Department of Transportation has decided to review the rules governing the NEVI program’s execution. Consequently, all prior versions of the NEVI Formula Program Guidance, including the current one dated June 11, 2024, have been revoked. According to Biondi, until new state plans are submitted and updated guidance is released, all State Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plans for each fiscal year will no longer be authorized.

She also made it clear that until the updated final guidance is in effect, no additional financial commitments can be made under the NEVI Formula Program. To avoid financial shocks, existing obligations for charging station design and construction will still be reimbursed.

Impact on EV Infrastructure and Federal Funding Compliance

In addition to guaranteeing network access and long-term data sharing, the Department of Energy‘s NEVI program offers support for up to 80% of eligible expenditures related to purchasing, setting up, and maintaining EV chargers. The number of open NEVI ports increased by 83% from the previous quarter to 126 public charging ports operating across 31 NEVI stations in nine states as of last November. With 41 states having at least the initial round of solicitations underway and 35 having granted conditional awards or agreements for over 3,560 fast charging ports at over 890 locations, 14 states currently have at least one operating EV station.

According to Politico, the FHWA took down several pages that contained information regarding the NEVI program from its website as of Thursday. Andrew Rogers, a former Biden administration deputy FHWA administrator, responded by saying the document ignores numerous federal court restraining orders as well as legal requirements. He said that the order violated the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which forbids presidents from refusing funds that Congress has authorized.

Critics argue that since the Trump Administration suspended the $5bn Electric Vehicle Charging Program, the decision could disrupt ongoing projects and set back progress in expanding the EV infrastructure across the U.S.

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Trump’s Opposition to EVs and Policy Reversals

Trump frequently attacked EVs during his campaign, saying at one point that EV advocates should “rot in hell” and that Biden’s policies encouraging EV adoption would cause a “bloodbath” in the American auto sector. Trump withdrew a Biden-era 2021 order last month that aimed to have half of all new U.S. car sales be electric by 2030 as part of a series of executive orders he signed in his first days back in office.

The NEVI program’s suspension by the government is a sign of a larger reduction in federal funding for climate and EV adoption programs. Environmental activists and industry participants have strongly opposed the move, claiming it could seriously impede the development of the country’s EV charging network and the shift to greener modes of transportation.

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