Despite legal victories, EV charging network faces new hurdles under Trump administration

The expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the United States continues to face significant challenges as the Trump administration implements new policies that could hamper development efforts. While charging installations grew at a record pace last year, recent administrative actions threaten to slow this momentum.

Fast-charging infrastructure saw substantial growth in 2023, with more than 18,000 new ports added across the country—a 30% increase from the previous year, according to data firm Paren. This expansion occurred despite EV adoption rates remaining relatively flat compared to 2022. The growth in charging availability is crucial for addressing one of consumers’ primary concerns when considering an electric vehicle purchase.

However, the Trump administration has moved to restrict funding for charging infrastructure in several Democratic-led states. The Department of Transportation has been directed to cancel funds earmarked for California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota, though officials from these states report they have not yet received formal notification of these cancellations.

Congressional action has further complicated the situation. Recent budget decisions rescinded more than $800 million in previously allocated charging infrastructure funds from several states, including Republican strongholds Texas and Florida, indicating the issue extends beyond partisan politics.

This week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a significant change to federal requirements for EV chargers. States receiving federal funding must now install chargers made entirely with American parts, a substantial increase from the previous requirement of 55% domestic components.

“Now we’re ensuring that if Congress wants to see these chargers built, we put America First,” Duffy said in a statement. “Doing so will unleash American manufacturing, protect our national security, and prevent taxpayer dollars from subsidizing our foreign adversaries.”

Industry experts have expressed concern about the feasibility of this requirement. Albert Gore, executive director of the Zero Emission Transportation Association, warned that “creating unreasonable standards and regulatory uncertainty for domestic manufacturers may cause supply chain disruptions, drive up costs, or cede market share to international competitors.” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat on the Senate’s environment committee, was more blunt, stating, “This administration’s message is clear: don’t build.”

These developments directly impact the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, established under the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. The program allocated $5 billion to states over five years to develop highway corridor charging and address infrastructure gaps, with an additional $2.5 billion through the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program.

The Trump administration initially directed states to stop spending NEVI funds in February, prompting legal action. Seventeen states sued the administration, challenging the Federal Highway Administration’s withholding of funds. A federal judge ruled in favor of 14 of these states, ordering the release of billions in funding. A second lawsuit by 16 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia over $2 billion in withheld funding resulted in another judicial order to release the money in January.

Despite these legal victories, Loren McDonald, chief analyst at EV data firm Chargeonomics, notes that only a fraction of the allocated funds have been spent due to availability issues. Some experts worry that the combination of congressional budget reallocation and Duffy’s new manufacturing requirements could effectively kill the NEVI program.

The challenges facing EV charging infrastructure are part of a broader shift in federal transportation policy. Since returning to the White House, Trump has reversed several policies that supported the transition to cleaner vehicles. He revoked the Biden administration’s target for half of all new U.S. vehicle sales to be electric by 2030 and signed legislation eliminating federal tax credits of up to $7,500 for new and used EV purchases.

The administration is also planning to weaken fuel efficiency standards for new vehicles and undermine regulations on auto tailpipe emissions that were central to climate policy efforts.

Ben Prochazka, executive director of the nonprofit Electrification Coalition, suggests a new approach to the conversation: “We need to do more to make sure that the broader benefits and value proposition for transportation electrification is not just stuck in a climate debate, and really needs to be re-centered on the future of the auto industry in the U.S. and how we’re going to compete.”