Trump shuts down federal EV charging stations because they’re ‘woke’

In an almost absurd policy shift, the Trump administration has shut down all electric vehicle charging stations at federal government buildings. The decision, first reported by The Verge, marks another significant rollback of electric mobility infrastructure as the Republican Party rallies against electric cars on all sides. Tesla’s Supercharger remains unaffected, while Trump declares all things battery-powered “woke”. 

The General Services Administration (GSA) oversees federal buildings and their operational logistics and manages approximately 8,000 charging ports for government-owned EVs and personal vehicles driven by federal employees.

According to internal communications from The Verge, the agency has been directed to discontinue these charging stations, justifying them as “not mission-critical.” The organization is also seeking to shed its electric vehicle fleet.

As of early next week

A leaked email from the GSA to regional offices confirms that the agency is canceling network contracts that keep the chargers operational. The message states that once the contracts are voided, the stations will be switched off “at the breaker,” rendering them completely unusable. Some of these shutdowns are expected to begin as early as next week.

Simultaneously, the administration has removed the GSA’s fleet electrification webpage. This outlined Biden-era policies aimed at transitioning federal vehicles to zero-emission models. 

Under the previous administration, the GSA had committed to phasing out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, leveraging funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to purchase an estimated 60,000 electric vehicles. With this reversal, it remains unclear whether these vehicles will be sold outright, mothballed, or repurposed.

Aggressive campaign against EVs

The decision is the latest move critics describe as an aggressive campaign against electric vehicle adoption. It seems utterly absurd that Elon Musk, the boss of an electric vehicle company, is advising the president in these matters unless his company benefits from it. 

The administration that Musk must streamline through the Doge project has previously halted the expansion of EV charging networks, citing cost concerns and regulatory overstep. The elimination of EV tax incentives has drawn scrutiny, particularly in light of Musk’s close role within the administration.

While Musk has publicly railed against government subsidies for EV adoption, Tesla has historically benefited from billions in federal support. Critics argue that by dismantling government-backed charging networks and subsidies, the administration is suffocating the competition for Tesla, which operates its proprietary Supercharger infrastructure. 

Tesla, which commands approximately 45% of the US EV market, has seen sales decline in recent months amid a growing consumer backlash against Musk’s political stances and management style.

‘Yes, Mr. President’

International repercussions of the Trump administration’s new electric car policy are materializing. In Canada, Tesla has been excluded from a municipal EV support program.

Domestically, the move to eliminate federal charging stations is expected to generate backlash from environmental groups, state governments, and automakers investing heavily in EV production.

Industry analysts warn that these actions could slow the pace of EV adoption in the US at a time when global competitors, including China and the European Union, are rapidly advancing their electric vehicle strategies.

Meanwhile, Trump has publicly defended the administration’s actions, using a recent speech to lash out at critics and urge Musk to take a more aggressive stance against what he called “the woke EV agenda.” Musk answered on X: “Yes, Mr. President.”