U.S. Moves to Tighten ‘Buy America’ Rules on EV Chargers, Throwing $5B Program Into Turmoil
Washington is rewriting the rules on electric vehicle chargers again — and the auto industry is bracing for impact. The U.S. Transportation Department has proposed raising American content requirements for federally funded EV charging stations from 55% to as much as 100%, while mandating they be produced in the United States. If finalized, the changes would take effect immediately.
This is a direct reversal of the Biden administration’s 2023 decision to waive some “Buy America” requirements for the $5 billion program designed to expand EV charging nationwide. At the time, federal officials loosened restrictions on steel, iron and construction materials, drawing criticism that U.S. taxpayers could end up subsidizing Chinese-made products. Now the pendulum has swung hard in the opposite direction.
Transportation officials say manufacturers have the capacity to build chargers in U.S. facilities and argue the tougher requirements would shield Americans from foreign-made components that carry cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The administration says the move would strengthen domestic manufacturing, boost jobs and address national security concerns. Critics see something else entirely.
The Sierra Club called the proposal a deliberate attempt to cripple the program, warning it would stall deployment and deny communities access to affordable transportation options. The political fight has already spilled into court. Last month, a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully suspended funding awarded for EV charger expansion, siding with 20 Democratic-led states that sued after the program was halted in February.
The legal setback came after the department suspended the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, part of the 2021 infrastructure law. Meanwhile, Congress redirected $879 million previously approved for the charging network to other infrastructure priorities in January. The result is a policy whiplash that leaves states, contractors and automakers stuck in the middle.
Car enthusiasts understand the importance of infrastructure. If you’re going to push an industry toward electrification, you need reliable charging. But constantly shifting rules — first waiving content requirements, then demanding up to 100% domestic production — is how you stall momentum and drive up costs.
The broader message is clear. Federal EV policy is no longer just about technology. It’s about trade, security and political muscle. And until Washington picks a lane and sticks to it, the rollout of America’s charging network will remain a battlefield instead of a buildout. The industry wanted certainty. Instead, it got a reckoning.
Join our Newsletter, follow our Instagram page, and connect with us on Facebook.
