For much of 2025, the murky outlook for federal funding to support the construction of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations has further frustrated taxpayers, the electrical contracting community, and EV and charging infrastructure manufacturers and suppliers.
The Biden administration took heavy criticism for its lack of progress rolling out federal funding to states to expand their EV charging networks, via $4.4 billion from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program established in 2021 by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
In early 2025, the incoming Trump administration issued a freeze on NEVI funding, which was lifted seven months later, but the NEVI program continues to underdeliver and underperform.
IEC members report that some contractors who were prepared to build EV charging infrastructure projects continue to face significant delays, and some states have finally restarted stalled procurement efforts and grant applications.
A January 21, 2026, report by E&E News found that states spent only 2%, or $94 million, of the $4.4 billion made available under the NEVI program, according to data from the Federal Highway Administration, which oversees the NEVI program.
Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution to fund the Department of Transportation past Jan. 31, 2026. It included half a billion dollars in cuts to NEVI. Now the $1.4 billion in funds states have obligated for EV charger installation in 2026 has been thrown in doubt, with federal reimbursement under NEVI an unsure bet. This funding cut was approved and made part of the 2026 budget passed on February 2, 2026, when President Donald Trump signed the resolution into law following Senate passage.
Before the budget resolution, analysts were projecting a productive 2026, with NEVI-funded sites set to double by the end of the year. Now, that looks increasingly unlikely.
Steady increases in charging speed have made electric vehicles a viable choice for more consumers. A 250-kilowatt charger can provide a compatible EV with 100 miles of range in less than 10 minutes in ideal conditions. Manufacturers have learned to anticipate jumps in technology and build higher-capacity chargers for the next generation of EVs.
But with only $300 million authorized for EV charger installation in 2026, states will have to compete for the limited funding.
IEC members can influence this process by writing to state representatives, emphasizing the benefits of EV infrastructure and noting the jobs that will be created by these projects, specifically for electricians.
IEC remains committed to American energy independence and a diversified, robust electrical grid. We will continue to advocate for strong public-private partnerships that provide employment for merit shop electricians and secure a strong energy future for the United States.