EV Uncertainty: How Trump’s charging station funding freeze is affecting the DC area
The Center for Auto Safety is the nation’s premier independent, member driven, non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving vehicle safety, quality, and fuel economy on behalf of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
“Without that infrastructure and without that federal support, it means that a lot more of the burden is going to be on states in that area,” said Michael Brooks with the Center for Auto Safety.
By Susan Hogan, Rick Yarborough, Carlos Olazagasti, Steve Jones
May 15, 2025
For a while, the road to driving a fully electric vehicle was gaining speed, with tax credits helping to fuel sales and dealer incentives driving up interest.
“They were like, ‘Hey, we have a two-year incentive to give you free charging with Electrify America,’” EV driver Antonio Zorrilla said as he plugged in at a charging station in Falls Church, Virginia.
That sold Zorilla, who said it’s been easy to stay on the road in the D.C. area with just a 30-minute charge.
There are more than 3,500 public charging stations in the D.C. area and there were supposed to be more coming.
But on President Donald Trump’s first day in office, he signed an executive order directing federal agencies to freeze funds allocated by the Biden-era bipartisan infrastructure law, including billions of dollars for states to install charging stations.
In February, the Federal Highway Administration said no new projects could begin while the program is under review. A Department of Transportation spokesperson told the News4 I-Team the program needs “major reform.”