The U.S. government is seeking to tighten domestic sourcing requirements for federally funded electric vehicle chargers, potentially making it more difficult for states to access funding under the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a proposal to increase the required share of American-made components in publicly funded charging stations from the current 55% to as much as 100%. The program is administered by the US Department of Transportation.
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The move follows a court ruling that prevented the administration of Donald Trump from withholding NEVI funds from states after the program was frozen earlier in 2025. Instead of blocking funding outright, the government appears to be tightening procurement rules governing how funds can be used.
Under previous policies, domestic content requirements were capped at 55% because U.S. supply chains for charging equipment were still developing. Raising the threshold could limit equipment availability, increase costs and add administrative hurdles for states seeking to deploy charging infrastructure, Electrek reported.
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Officials supporting stricter rules say domestic manufacturing capacity has improved and that higher requirements could strengthen U.S. industry, create jobs and reduce reliance on foreign components that may pose cybersecurity risks.
Industry and environmental groups expressed mixed reactions. The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) warned that the charging hardware supply chain is complex and depends on diversified sourcing, suggesting stricter requirements could disrupt procurement and increase costs.
Environmental organization Sierra Club said the proposal could slow deployment of infrastructure funded by Congress.
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The Department of Transportation said the proposal remains under review and that feedback will be gathered from stakeholders before a final decision is made on whether to continue, modify or revoke the existing waiver.
Separately, the U.S. Congress has approved legislation to redirect $879 million previously allocated for charging network expansion to other infrastructure priorities, according to Reuters.