These EV chargers were already bought, paid for with our tax dollars, installed, and operational THIS is what real government waste looks like
The Trump administration is moving forward with a controversial decision to shut down electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at all federally owned government buildings. Additionally, the administration is expected to sell off the General Services Administration’s (GSA) recently acquired fleet of EVs, marking a significant shift away from previous efforts to electrify government transportation.
The GSA, which is responsible for managing federal buildings and overseeing vehicle fleets, currently operates approximately 8,000 EV charging ports across the country. These chargers serve not only federally owned electric vehicles but also personal EVs used by government employees. By shutting down these stations, the administration is effectively cutting off a key resource for employees who rely on government-operated charging infrastructure.
According to The Verge, which obtained internal communication on the matter, the administration’s decision will be formally announced to federal agencies next week. The email, reportedly sent by GSA to its regional offices, states:
“As GSA has worked to align with the current administration, we have received direction that all GSA-owned charging stations are not mission-critical.”
The email further details the plan to phase out the charging infrastructure. GSA is currently in the process of canceling contracts that fund the operation and maintenance of these chargers. Once these contracts are terminated, the charging stations will be taken offline and physically disabled by shutting them off at the electrical breaker level.
The shutdown is expected to occur in phases, with some chargers being turned off as early as next week. Once deactivated, neither government-owned electric vehicles nor private vehicles owned by federal employees will be permitted to use the chargers.
Colorado Public Radio was the first to report on this development, confirming the existence of the internal email. The report highlights that the directive has already been communicated to regional offices, including the Denver Federal Center, which has 22 charging stations at 11 different locations.
In addition to shutting down the EV chargers, the administration has also removed the GSA’s fleet electrification webpage, which previously detailed plans and progress toward transitioning government fleets to electric vehicles. Although an archived version of the webpage is still accessible, its removal signals a clear departure from electrification initiatives pursued in recent years.
This decision has sparked criticism from environmental advocates and industry experts who argue that shutting down existing EV charging stations—especially ones that generate revenue—contradicts the goal of improving government financial efficiency. Many also question the rationale behind selling off newly purchased EVs, which could lead to financial losses given the depreciation of assets upon resale.
The move aligns with broader policy shifts under the Trump administration, which has previously rolled back environmental regulations, loosened emissions standards, and promoted fossil fuel investments over renewable energy initiatives. Critics argue that these actions collectively undermine progress toward a cleaner transportation future and put the U.S. government at odds with global trends favoring vehicle electrification.
While the administration has not publicly justified the decision in detail, sources indicate that the primary reasoning revolves around cost-cutting measures and the belief that EV charging infrastructure is not an essential government function. However, opponents argue that such infrastructure plays a crucial role in reducing long-term costs, lowering emissions, and modernizing government operations.
The full impact of this decision remains to be seen, but it is clear that the U.S. federal government’s push toward EV adoption is facing a significant setback under the Trump administration. The extent to which these policies will be reversed by future administrations is uncertain, but for now, the government’s electrification efforts appear to be taking a backseat to traditional fuel-dependent strategies.
