‘Buy America’ push: US government sabotages NEVI funding again

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published a new notice this week regarding the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Programme. The US Department of Transportation is proposing to increase the proportion of American components in publicly funded charging stations from the current 55% to “up to 100%.” This move is likely to significantly complicate the use of these funds.

The Biden administration had already pursued a broad ‘Buy America’ strategy but allowed exceptions for NEVI criteria, capping the required domestic content of charging device components at 55%—acknowledging that the US supply chain was not yet sufficiently developed. Critics of the current US government view this latest move as another attempt by President Trump and his administration to sabotage the unpopular NEVI programme. Tightening procurement rules could result in “states having fewer charging device options, facing higher prices, and overcoming more bureaucratic hurdles,” according to the portal Electrek.

Court defeat less than three weeks ago

After taking office, President Trump initially froze the programme but soon faced strong legal opposition. Recently, a court officially ruled that the government had unlawfully suspended funding for charging infrastructure from February 2025. The ruling is seen as a victory for 20 Democrat-led states that filed the lawsuit and is intended to protect them permanently from such interventions in the future.

Instead of blocking the programme entirely, the government now appears to be making access to the funds more difficult. Officially, the Department of Transportation states that it is confident manufacturers can produce EV chargers in US facilities, which would “protect Americans from foreign-manufactured EV charger components that use technologies with cybersecurity vulnerabilities.” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is further quoted as saying that increasing domestic content requirements “will strengthen domestic production, create new jobs in the USA, enhance the competitiveness of US companies, and address potential national security concerns.”

Reactions across the USA, much like the political landscape, are deeply divided. Albert Gore, Executive Director of the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), responded with a statement that the charging hardware supply chain is “complex” and requires “diversified procurement.” He further described the proposed jump from 55% to up to 100% as an “unreasonable” standard that “could disrupt the supply chain, drive up costs, or cede market share to international competitors.”

“Sabotaging a major infrastructure program”

Katherine García, Director of ‘Clean Transportation for All’ at the Sierra Club, was even more forthright: “Today’s announcement is yet another bad-faith attempt to kill NEVI and block the buildout of essential infrastructure Congress funded for all Americans.” “Supporting American manufacturing is essential – but sabotaging a major infrastructure program and undermining US competitiveness is not ‘America First.’”

For now, the proposal remains just that—a proposal. The Department will now gather feedback from all stakeholders before deciding whether to “continue, modify, or completely revoke the waiver.”

Meanwhile, according to information from the news agency Reuters, the US Senate discussed another bill in January that seeks to reallocate $879 million already approved by Congress for charging network expansion. After the US House of Representatives gave its approval, the Senate also endorsed the move, meaning this sum will now be used “for other infrastructure priorities.”

electrek.co, reuters.com, fhwa.dot.gov (PDF)