The General Services Administration (GSA) has announced plans to remove electric vehicle (EV) chargers from all federal properties across the United States. According to the agency, which oversees the management of government-owned buildings and vehicles, the existing hundreds of chargers and approximately 8,000 plugs available for federal employees to charge their vehicles are considered “not mission critical.” Additionally, the GSA will dispose of any electric vehicles acquired during President Biden’s administration.
This decision aligns with the Republican Party’s general skepticism towards electric vehicles and the broader green energy movement, as well as their inclination to reverse initiatives from the previous administration. Former President Trump has been vocal in his opposition to EV mandates and is actively attempting to override California’s stringent emissions standards, which require all cars sold in the state to be electric by 2035.
The Inflation Reduction Act championed by President Biden included substantial funding aimed at accelerating the transition to clean energy, with financial allocations for public chargers nationwide and $975 million earmarked for the GSA to enhance federal buildings with sustainable technologies. However, these plans appear to be reconsidered now.
Elon Musk, leader of a prominent electric car company, seems to be disengaged from the automotive sector lately despite his previous commitment to advancing a green future. The email from the GSA, accessed by The Verge, indicates that federal workers are to begin deactivating chargers, pending the cancellation of network contracts. Once these contracts are terminated, the chargers will be disabled.
It is speculated that Musk’s involvement in President Trump’s cost-cutting efforts might be linked to this decision. This is perceived as counterintuitive given Musk’s historical advocacy for promoting electric vehicles. Currently, some suggest Musk’s support for eliminating EV subsidies and tax credits could benefit Tesla, which reportedly operates profitably without them.
Furthermore, the Trump administration recently suspended $3 billion in funding allocated for public EV chargers. Reports have indicated that many chargers at federal facilities are slower Level 2 variants or use outdated CHAdeMO plugs, prompting arguments for their removal if they are underutilized or malfunction frequently.
In conjunction with efforts to reduce federal workforce numbers, there may be fewer employees who could use such charging facilities in the future. While the return of functional charging equipment on federal property seems unlikely at this time, some argue that it would be advantageous to see such infrastructure reinstated.
