Congressional Budget Bill Threatens Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Funding
As Congress deliberates a crucial budget bill, a significant cut to electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure funding looms. The bill targets the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, proposing a $500 million reduction as part of a broader package of nearly $900 million in cuts to electric transportation initiatives.
Launched five years ago, the NEVI program aimed to enhance the availability of EV charging stations. However, its progress has been sluggish, and by the time the Trump administration assumed office, only a small portion of its budget had been utilized. The administration previously attempted to retract funding, and now, the current budget proposal seeks to significantly slash its resources.
Despite this setback, state governments and environmental advocates have made headway through legal challenges to unlock previously committed funds. A notable victory occurred with a ruling from the U.S. District Court in Washington State on January 23, which favored continued state access to NEVI resources. However, the proposed budget could undermine these efforts.
The Trump administration’s previous actions to rescind EV funding have drawn criticism from various quarters. According to Corrigan Salerno, policy manager for Transportation for America, the cuts represent a breach of trust. “This is the kind of cut that really undermines the trust that should be there,” Salerno commented.
Recently, the House passed an appropriations bill that reallocates NEVI funds towards other transportation priorities. The bill, which forms part of the broader fiscal package, covers transportation, housing, and urban development funding for the fiscal year. The Senate also approved the bill to prevent a government shutdown, and it now returns to the House for further review with NEVI defunding intact.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) indicated plans to hold votes soon. Meanwhile, Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), chair of the transportation budget subcommittee, defended the bill in a statement, asserting it refocuses taxpayer money on essential priorities like safety and economic growth.
The NEVI program was initially set to allocate about $5 billion over five years, a part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Biden in 2021. Yet, it took more than two years for the first federally funded station to open, as seen in December 2023 in Ohio. As of last year, only 57 stations were operational, according to a congressional report.
The Trump administration’s decision in February 2025 to halt NEVI funding caused considerable disruption among state governments, which had started utilizing the funds. This action prompted lawsuits from environmental groups and 17 states, culminating in a recent favorable court ruling. However, as per Salerno of Transportation for America, the impact of the ruling is likely to be diminished by the budget bill’s provisions.
“The administration played a dirty game with Congress here, making sure that states couldn’t spend down their money, and held that money hostage for long enough such that Congress could eventually take it and re-appropriate those funds for new priorities,” Salerno remarked. “It’s really unfortunate to see the confidence undermined in what’s supposed to be a bipartisan negotiated infrastructure law.”
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org