Unplugging Progress: Trump Administration Prepares for Massive Shutdown of Federal Electric Vehicle Chargers

In what’s set to be a disruptive move, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)—the agency responsible for managing government-owned buildings—is gearing up to shut down its entire network of electric vehicle chargers nationwide. The GSA reportedly oversees an expansive network of EV chargers, numbering in the hundreds, with an estimated total of 8,000 plugs. These plugs serve dual purposes; not only powering government-owned vehicles, but also catering to the electric needs of federal employees’ vehicles.

The report indicates that federal employees will soon be directed to power down these chargers. Some regional offices have already been informed to take their chargers offline. Further news unveiled through an internal email made public by Colorado Public Radio reveals plans to shut down charging stations at Denver Federal Center on the grounds that they are “not mission-critical.”

The looming shutdown is viewed as part of a wider strategy by President Trump’s administration to cut funding for government agencies and withdraw federal support for renewable energy. This includes rolling back on its support for an EV charging infrastructure program that had previously provided millions to electric vehicle titan, Tesla.

The decision is expected to spur a wide-ranging debate on the role of government in fostering renewable and green energy alternatives. Criticism is likely to mount over the disconnection of federal EV chargers, seen as a reversal in progress towards reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable transportation solutions. As the world hurtles towards a greener, post-oil era, this move paints a grim picture for the future of electric vehicles in the U.S.