The Senate’s fiscal 2026 funding bill for transportation programs prods the Department of Transportation to finish up changes to guidance for a $5 billion electric vehicle charger program that the Trump administration suspended earlier this year.
The bill, which was approved 27-1 on Thursday, contains language that would direct DOT to issue updated draft guidance for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, known as NEVI, for public comment no later than 30 days after the legislation is enacted. DOT must then publish final guidance no more than four months after the bill becomes law.
The department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Background: The Federal Highway Administration in early February told states that it was moving to halt NEVI and rescinding prior guidance for the program. In order to access funds, states must have an approved plan that follows existing guidance — as a result, the plans that states had previously submitted were suspended.
