The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has suspended state electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure deployment plans under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, according to a Feb. 6 letter from FHWA Associate Administrator Emily Biondi to state transportation directors.
“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Accordingly, the current NEVI Formula Program Guidance dated June 11, 2024, and all prior versions of this guidance are rescinded,” the letter said. “The FHWA is updating the NEVI Formula Program Guidance to align with current U.S. DOT policy and priorities, including those set forth in DOT Order 2100.7, titled “Ensuring Reliance Upon Sound Economic Analysis in Department of Transportation Policies, Programs, and Activities.”
The letter said that new guidance about the NEVI Formula program will be published for public comment in the spring. The FHWA said it is suspending the approval of all State Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment plans for all fiscal years and that no new obligations will occur until the final program guidance is published.
“Since FHWA is suspending the existing State plans, States will be held harmless for not implementing
their existing plans,” the letter said.
However, until new guidance is issued, reimbursement of existing obligations will be allowed, the agency said, in order to not disrupt current financial commitments.
The Sierra Club said the Trump Administration’s decision to freeze the EV charging funds was an illegal move.
“This is an attack on bipartisan funding that Congress approved years ago and is driving investment and innovation in every state, with Texas as the largest beneficiary,” Sierra Club Clean Transportation for All Director Katherine García said. “Throwing out states’ plans, which were carefully built together with business, utilities, and communities, only hurts America’s growing clean energy economy.”