United States Ministry From transportation, states ordered the killing of implementation plans related to National Infrastructure ProgramAccording to a memorandum obtained by WIRED later It is announced. The decision appears to stop in its paths, a program of $ 5 billion, designed to finance state projects for installation Electric car Shipping stations throughout the United States.
Federal Road Management officials (FHWA), which runs the program, ordered government transportation managers to “cancel the selection” The plans that all the fifty states They are used to locating and how their shipping stations, and with the companies you will contract to do so. Countries have followed these plans to build more than 30 charging stations throughout the United States, with hundreds of other on the road.
Investigative studies show potential car buyers who cite the infrastructure of late electric cars in the country as a major reason not to purchase electricity. Nevi, which it created Infrastructure Law 2021The government’s answer to those concerns was. He – she Attempts to build shipping devices Thousands of miles from federal highways, focusing on places that may not be able to support the charger financially.
The memo says that the transfer officials in the president Donald Trump The administration will write all the new directions of the program, which will then go to a general suspension period. The schedule suggests working on the electric vehicle charger network funded by the federal government that may be stopped for months.
It may be illegal. It can fly against the orders of the court calling for the Trump administration to “cancel the freezing” of funding that prevents federal funds from flowing to state agencies. The Administrative Procedures Law, which requires agencies, may also violate legal procedures before taking action.
“There is no legal basis for the money that was divided into states to build projects that are canceled” identified “based on politics,” says Andrew Rogers, a former deputy director and a great advisor to the FBI management.
The American point did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It is not clear how DOT arrangement will affect the shipping stations under construction. In the letter, FHWA officials write that “no new obligations may occur,” indicating that countries may not sign new contracts with companies even if these states are allocated federal funding. The message also says, “The current obligations will be paid,” as the program is going through a review process, indicating that the countries may be allowed to pay the companies that have already provided services.
The billions have already been spent in federal financing under the program. The money went to the red and blue states. Among the best financing recipients last year is Florida, New York, Tixas, Georgia and Ouhayu.
The CEO of Tesla El Musk has spent the past few weeks at the top of the so -called so -called Ministry of Governmental efficiency Directing “audit operations” and federal spending. But his automotive electrical company received $ 31 million in NEVI, according to A database kept by transport officials, representing 6 percent of the funds granted so far.
The Trump administration said it plans to target electric cars and EV programs. and Executive order that Trump signed On his first day in office, it is claimed that the elimination of the “EV authorization”, although there is no such federal policy.
Ryan McKinnon, his spokesman, says that NEVI projects took longer to get out of the ground to create another shipping station because the federal government was deliberate in customizing financing for companies that have hot records, which can prove that they can build or operate charging stations. Before partnership feesA group of companies and institutions that work in charging electric cars. If NEVI’s funding is not spent, “companies that have spent time or money in investing in this program will be harmed.”
Update, February 6 at 8 pm: We added a link to the FHWA note once it is published. We also added an additional context about Tesla after we received awards from NEVI.
