NATSO Calls for Measured Approach to Buy America Modifications

NATSO urged the U.S. Department of Transportation to take a measured approach to the domestic content requirements for electric vehicle chargers used in Federal aid highway projects, arguing that rapidly escalating the threshold of the Buy America framework will inject uncertainty into private investments, risking projects already in progress.  NATSO and its industry allies urged the Agency to delay changes to the domestic content threshold of the Buy America program until 2028.

In early 2026, the Administration proposed tightening the Buy America rules for federally funded EV charging stations, requiring 100 percent domestic content. Previously, the rules required 55 percent domestically sourced content for components and final assembly of EV chargers manufactured after July 1, 2024. At present, a competitive market of 100 percent domestic high-speed EV charger components is not available at the scale needed to meet the timelines of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program.

NATSO applauds the steps the Administration is taking to streamline the NEVI program and shares the Agency’s commitment to American manufacturing and domestic energy dominance.  However “mandating a threshold the market cannot meet will not conjure a domestic supply chain into existence;” and could be counterproductive if companies abandon domestic production facilities.

A majority of NEVI grants have gone to charging installations at existing fuel retailers’ sites. Many NATSO members who have participated in NEVI are in the process of applying for, receiving, and effectuating awards that were made based on financial commitments assuming the 55 percent domestic content threshold would be in place.

Any changes to the existing threshold should not disrupt ongoing projects.

In August 2025, the Trump Administration issued guidance that encouraged the selection of EV charging site locations where the charging stations are located alongside consumer-friendly amenities, such as food, restrooms and security, and where the charging station operator is the also the site host.

NATSO applauded these meaningful reforms, which further aligned the EV charging experience with the refueling experience that consumers expect when stopping to refuel their vehicles. Exceedingly stringent Buy America requirements could inadvertently undermine this progress.

Read NATSO’s Buy America comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation

NATSO Applauds U.S. DOT for Resolving NEVI Challenges

Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman

Wlazlowski Neuman leads NATSO and the NATSO Foundation’s public affairs initiatives and communications strategies to promote the truck stop and travel center industry to the public, opinion leaders, elected officials, and the media. Her outreach includes a spectrum of policy issues facing the industry, with a particular focus on transportation and fuel issues, truck parking, and human trafficking. She serves as NATSO’s representative on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Truck Parking Coalition, the Clean Freight Coalition, and various state truck parking technical advisory committees. She is the architect of the truck stop and travel center industry’s anti-human trafficking campaign and currently serves as a Committee member for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Human Trafficking Advisory Council. Wlazlowski Neuman serves on the American Highway Users Policy and Government Affairs Committee.

See Full Bio