(The Epoch Times)—Less than 400 additional electric vehicle (EV) public charging ports have been installed in the United States following billions of dollars of allocated funding under the Biden administration for building charging infrastructure, said a July 22 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, signed into law by then-President Joe Biden, appropriated $7.5 billion in funding for two programs—the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI) and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI). The funds were aimed at supporting the development of public EV charging infrastructure.
However, only 384 charging ports had been built nationwide under the NEVI and CFI programs as of April 2025, the report said.
The Trump administration suspended committing funds for NEVI in February.
GAO said the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which administers the two programs, has lagged in setting clear performance targets for NEVI and CFI.
The report noted that Congress had “expressed concern over the pace” at which charging ports had been built under the programs.
During a June 2024 Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) criticized the slow deployment of EV charging ports.
“That is pathetic. We’re now three years into this. That is a vast administrative failure,” he said. “Something is terribly wrong, and it needs to be fixed.”
The Biden administration had planned to set up 500,000 charging ports by 2030, according to former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
As of May 2025, there were roughly 219,000 publicly available individual charging ports at 77,000 EV charging stations across the United States, the GAO report said.
Only 56,000 of these units are DC fast chargers that allow EV owners to quickly charge their vehicles. The majority, 162,000 units, are Level 2 ports that take much longer to charge, the report said.
For instance, one hour of charging with a Level 2 port only delivers 25 miles of driving range, far lower than the 100 to 200 or more miles delivered by a DC charger, GAO said.
Moreover, there are large cost differences between the two options.
“Level 2 chargers may cost about $900 to $3,000 per charging port to purchase, and between about $700 and $4,000 per charging port to install,” the report said.
In contrast, “the fastest DC fast charger can cost over $140,000 per charging port to purchase, and more than $39,000 per charging port to install, when between three and five charging ports are installed,” according to the report.
GAO highlighted that federal support for EV charging infrastructure may be affected due to the Trump administration’s policies.
On Jan. 20, the first day of his second term in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Unleashing American Energy.”
In the order, Trump instructed all agencies to “immediately pause the disbursement of funds” appropriated via the IIJA or the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, including funding for EV charging stations made available through the NEVI and CFI programs.
In February, FHWA said in a letter sent to the directors of state departments of transportation that it was suspending commitment of funds under the NEVI program.
At the time, the agency said the decision was taken to align with current policies of the Department of Transportation (DOT), including a Jan. 29 DOT order that policymaking be based on “sound economic principles and analysis supported by rigorous cost-benefit requirements and data-driven decisions.”
According to the GAO report, FHWA officials told them in March that due to Trump’s executive order and related agency actions, “most of FHWA’s NEVI and CFI activities were under review while it, and other relevant agencies, determine whether these efforts align with the administration’s policies and priorities.”
“Officials did not provide a time frame of their review process. As of May 2025, these reviews were ongoing and their outcomes unknown,” the GAO report added.
Meanwhile, new EV sales dipped by 3.5 percent in June year over year, according to a July 18 statement from auto industry service company Cox Automotive. The outlook for the fourth quarter is “far less certain” due to the elimination of government-backed incentives and tariff issues, it said.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.
