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Timeline of EV-Related Actions by the New Administration

In recent weeks, the new administration has issued numerous directives that could impact transportation electrification. The EC has created this webpage to provide brief updates on the new administration’s executive actions and efforts. We will provide updates to this page as developments occur, along with additional details and opportunities to engage on specific actions.

Our work to accelerate transportation electrification at the local, state, and federal levels includes reducing its political divisiveness by highlighting its broad benefits and demonstrating why they matter to all Americans. As we navigate the implications of new federal directives and work to strengthen the EV narrative, we need your help to ensure that policymakers understand the local economic impacts of the EV industry and will work to defend crucial investments and policies benefitting the communities they represent.

Note: Inclusion of links to external sources does not necessarily imply endorsement of their views.

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Timeline

Sorted by most recent actions

March 6, 2025: Administration Delays Tariffs

On March 4, tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico took effect after a one-month delay. On March 5, the administration announced that it would further delay tariffs on automotive imports to help U.S. automakers, and on March 6, further suspended tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico for another month. Ford CEO Jim Farley warned that the tariffs “would blow a hole in the U.S. industry.”

  • February 1, 2025: Administration Announces Tariffs on Imports from Canada, China, and Mexico​
    • In another series of executive orders, the new administration announced additional tariffs on imports from Canada (10% on energy resource imports, 25% otherwise), China (10% overall), and Mexico (25% overall). These tariffs were originally set to take effect on February 4; since then, negotiations have delayed the implementation of the tariffs on Canada and Mexico by one month. The tariffs on China remain unchanged. The U.S. auto manufacturing industry relies heavily on supply chains that pass through both Canada and Mexico, so this move could have a significant impact on the industry.

February 21, 2025: GSA Shutting Down Existing EV Charging Stations

On February 24, reports surfaced that the General Services Administration would be shutting down existing EV chargers and may offload EVs in the federal fleet. This E&E News article demonstrates that this could cost taxpayers up to $1 billion.

The EC has long identified EVs as a great fleet solution because they often have defined daily routes and return to a central location, where they can be charged overnight. EC analyses have demonstrated that EVs lead to significant savings for the federal fleet. Incorporating American-made EVs powered by a diverse, domestic grid into the federal fleet supports U.S. economic and national security.

February 6, 2025: FHWA Orders States to Suspend Approval of NEVI Plans

On February 6, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a letter addressed to state department of transportation directors indicating that the U.S. DOT is rescinding all previously released guidance for implementation of the NEVI Formula Grant Program and ordering the immediate suspension of all state NEVI plan approval. New guidance is expected to be released for public comment in the spring of this year; following its finalization, all states—regardless of whether or not their previously submitted plans were approved by the FHWA—will be required to submit new plans in accordance with the updated guidance in order to access both new funding and previously approved but unobligated funds.

At present, state are at varying levels of pause for their NEVI programs, depending on the status of obligated funding within the current federal fiscal year. Numerous states were also party to a court filing, which has allowed these states to proceed through a current court stay.

January 29, 2025: OMB Rescinds M-25-13 (Update)

In response to the federal judge’s administrative stay, OMB rescinded M-25-13 , but said that the administration’s broader efforts to block spending that it opposes remain in effect (including Unleashing American Energy Executive Order), which could impact transportation electrification funding.

January 28, 2025: DOT Issues Memo Regarding CAFE Standards

The Department of Transportation (DOT) released a memo calling for the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to review and reconsider all Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards. The previous Trump administration loosened CAFE standards after two years in office; the process is likely to occur more quickly this time around.

January 20, 2025: New Administration Issues Unleashing American Energy Executive Order

Among a series of new executive orders and reversals of previous executive orders, the new administration issued the Unleashing American Energy executive order, which included a directive to pause the disbursement of all Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds for 90 days. During this time, agencies are ordered to conduct and submit reviews of all programs, projects, and policies to the Office of Management and Budget and National Economic Council. The order specifically cites the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) and National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) programs as examples of programs targeted for retraction. For more information, view the Harvard Law School analysis of the executive orders.