A $5 Billion Program With Little to Show for It
In 2021, then-President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which allocated $5 billion to the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The goal was to create a nationwide network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to support the transition to cleaner transportation. However, three years later, the results were underwhelming. According to reports, only seven charging stations had been built, a figure that drew bipartisan criticism.
“That is pathetic. We’re now three years into this … that is a vast administrative failure,” Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said during a June 2024 hearing. The program’s failure to deliver on its promises fueled concerns that the initiative was plagued by bureaucracy, inefficiency, and poor planning.
Despite these glaring issues, the Biden administration continued pouring money into infrastructure projects. In January 2025, just before leaving office, Biden approved another $5 billion in funding for various infrastructure projects, including rail safety, bridges, roads, airports, and more EV charging depots. However, given the track record of the NEVI program, many questioned whether this new funding would yield meaningful results.
Trump’s Move to Halt the Program
As part of his broader agenda to curb wasteful spending and reassess Biden-era environmental policies, President Donald Trump took swift action to halt the NEVI program. Less than a month into his second term, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), under new leadership, rescinded all existing guidance related to the program and suspended the approval of state electric vehicle infrastructure deployment plans.
In a letter dated February 6, 2025, Emily Biondi, associate administrator for the Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty, explained the decision: “The new leadership of the Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) has decided to review the policies underlying the implementation of the NEVI Formula Program. Accordingly, the current NEVI Formula Program Guidance dated June 11, 2024, and all prior versions of this guidance are rescinded.”
Biondi further clarified that “effective immediately, no new obligations may occur under the NEVI Formula Program until the updated final NEVI Formula Program Guidance is issued and new State plans are submitted and approved.” This move puts a temporary stop to the approval of state plans that would have allowed them to access federal funding for EV charging infrastructure.
The Reality of the NEVI Program’s Failure
The poor performance of the NEVI program was undeniable. By the end of 2024, only 289 federally funded EV charging ports were operational, despite initial promises to construct 500,000 chargers nationwide. Bureaucratic hurdles and outdated federal highway regulations hampered the deployment of stations, leaving many projects stuck in limbo.
During a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing, Federal Highway Administration head Shailen Bhatt admitted that “EV charging stations couldn’t even be deployed at rest stops under existing federal highway rules.” This regulatory bottleneck significantly slowed progress and raised further doubts about the feasibility of the government’s ambitious EV infrastructure goals.
Even Democratic lawmakers acknowledged the problems. Merkley’s frustration reflected broader concerns that the Biden administration had overpromised and underdelivered when it came to EV infrastructure. With the NEVI program facing such serious setbacks, Trump’s decision to halt it was seen by his supporters as a necessary step to reevaluate how federal funds were being allocated.
A Closer Look at Wasteful Spending
The NEVI program was not the only example of inefficiency in the Biden administration’s green energy push. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s highly publicized taxpayer-funded EV road trip in 2023 became a symbol of government mismanagement. The trip, intended to promote electric vehicles, ended in controversy when Granholm’s team used a gas-powered car to reserve a charging station for her convoy, leading to public backlash.
The trip cost taxpayers nearly $125,000, well above what was legally permitted. A report from the Energy Department’s Office of Inspector General noted that Granholm’s expenses exceeded federal limits by nearly $10,000. House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) condemned the incident, saying, “This publicity stunt not only illustrates how out of touch the Biden Administration is with the consequences of its policies but came at the expense of American taxpayers.”
Granholm also faced scrutiny for avoiding Tesla vehicles during her road trip, despite Tesla having the most reliable and widespread charging network. Instead, the Biden administration funneled taxpayer dollars into companies like Rivian, which received a $6.6 billion loan from the Department of Energy, raising concerns about favoritism and misallocation of funds.
What’s Next for EV Charging Infrastructure?
Trump’s decision to halt the NEVI program does not mean an end to EV infrastructure investment. Instead, it signals a shift toward more responsible fiscal management. The administration has clarified that funds already committed to existing projects will still be reimbursed to avoid disrupting financial commitments. However, future funding will be contingent on an updated and more efficient strategy.
Trump’s move also challenges the notion that the federal government must lead the development of EV infrastructure. Private companies like Tesla have successfully built extensive charging networks without requiring massive government subsidies. This raises an important question: Is federal intervention necessary, or would a market-driven approach yield better results?
The Impact on the EV Industry
The suspension of the NEVI program has sent shockwaves through the EV industry. Automakers that relied on government incentives and infrastructure funding are now reassessing their strategies. Some fear that the uncertainty could slow down the adoption of electric vehicles, particularly in states that depended on federal funding for charging station deployment.
However, for consumers, Trump’s move could be a positive development. A September 2024 survey by consulting firm EY found that only 34% of Americans planned to buy an EV as their next car, down from 48% in 2023. The primary concerns were expensive battery replacement costs and unreliable public charging availability. By halting ineffective government spending on EV infrastructure, Trump’s administration may be acknowledging these concerns and paving the way for a more realistic approach to EV adoption.
Trump’s America First Energy Policy
The Trump administration’s decision to reevaluate the NEVI program is part of a broader effort to prioritize American energy independence and economic sustainability over costly government-mandated transitions to green energy. On the 2024 campaign trail, Trump repeatedly argued that EV mandates were harming the U.S. auto industry and driving up costs for consumers.
By pausing the NEVI program, Trump is sending a clear message: government spending should be efficient, accountable, and aligned with the real needs of the American people. His administration is not against electric vehicles, but it is against wasteful spending and policies that distort the free market.
NP Editor: This is symbolic of renewable energy spending in general, the distortions to the market are undeniable, slowing the market down, not enhancing it.
