Adapted by:
Alejandro Alcolea
WriterWriter at Xataka. I studied education and music, but since 2014 I've been writing about my passion: video games and technology. I specialize in product analysis, photography, and video. My body is 70% coffee.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
President Donald Trump had a clear goal upon returning to the White House: to dismantle as many of the policies implemented by the Biden administration as possible. Among these policies were initiatives aimed at promoting decarbonization through renewable energy and electric vehicles.
Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico could disrupt U.S. electric vehicle ambitions. However, according to The Verge and CPR News, the president will soon take another significant step. Trump will reportedly dismantle thousands of charging stations across the country and recall the government’s electric cars purchased during the Biden administration.
No EV chargers on federal buildings. CPR News was the first outlet to report this information, citing access to an internal email. According to several sources obtained by CPR News, the General Services Administration is working to align with the current administration’s agenda, including plans to close charging stations.
The GSA manages federal government-owned buildings nationwide. According to The Verge, which also had access to the email, the GSA plans to announce the gradual closure of EV chargers. Some offices have already disconnected. In others, charging stations will be disabled once contracts with network providers expire.
A green plan. Neither government-owned vehicles nor private employees’ vehicles will be able to refuel at certain locations. During Biden’s term, the GSA was tasked with implementing a plan to phase out gas-powered vehicles. The goal was for more than half of the federal government’s fleet of 650,000 vehicles to be replaced by electric vehicles.
As a result, the government began installing charging stations in federal buildings. However, with Trump’s purported plan not to transition to electric cars, the chargers may now serve no purpose. According to the GSA, more than 58,000 electric vehicles had been ordered by March 2024. Additionally, 8,000 charging stations were already available in government buildings, with plans to add another 25,000.
The GSA's official website before and after Trump’s return to the White House.
“Not mission critical.” The GSA’s official website used to include a map showing the real-time location and status of EV charging ports. However, that section of the website was recently deleted, and the map can now only be accessed through a digital archive like the Wayback Machine.
According to The Verge and CPR News, the existing electric vehicles will be discontinued, though it remains unclear whether the Trump administration will sell or retain them. The leaked email included a clear message: “As GSA has worked to align with the current administration, we have received direction that all GSA owned charging stations are not mission critical.”
No EV chargers left. Wired recently reported that the GSA plans to sell around 500 buildings as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to “clean up” the government. This move aligns with the Department of Governmental Efficiency, headed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
What stands out most in this situation is that the GSA and the government aren’t only choosing not to switch to electric vehicles. They’re also dismantling infrastructure that would allow employees in those buildings to charge their private electric cars while at work.
Image | Roger Starnes Sr
Related | The U.S. Government Reportedly Awarded Tesla a $400 Million Contract. It’s Had to Make Some Changes
Log in to leave a comment