The Trump administration has released new guidelines allowing states to distribute $5 billion in funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, following a prolonged delay.
On Monday, the administration reinstated funding for the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program after losing a legal battle with 14 states.
The updated guidance from the U.S. Department of Transportation eliminates previous mandates that guaranteed public charging station access in underserved communities.
Soon after Trump assumed office, the Department of Transportation halted the NEVI program by withdrawing the guidelines that states were required to follow when submitting funding plans, according to a report by InsideEVs. The agency stated it aimed to revise the program to align with current U.S. DOT policy and priorities. While projects already under contract were allowed to continue, states were barred from issuing any new ones.
In November 2021, President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to modernize U.S. transportation and utilities. It included $5 billion for EV charging stations, with plans to place one every 50 miles along major highways. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the USDOT later eased the funding review process, dropping requirements for chargers in rural and underserved areas.
According to the Government Accountability Office, funding has been stalled since February, leaving roughly $4.2 billion undistributed.
In May, a coalition of states filed a lawsuit against the administration over the funding pause, arguing it was unlawful. The following month, a federal judge ordered the administration to release the funds.
The revised interim guidance targets what the administration describes as ‘red tape’ that previously slowed the program’s rollout. Under the new rules, states now have the flexibility to determine the spacing of federally funded fast-charging stations along the highways. Previously, stations were required to be no more than 50 miles apart for a travel corridor to be considered complete. Only after meeting that standard could states use NEVI funds for charging projects beyond major highways.
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