Trump administration set to purchase $400 million worth of armored Teslas
The Trump administration is expected to purchase $400 million worth of armored Tesla vehicles, according to a new State Department document detailing procurement for fiscal year 2025.
Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk is a top White House official who has been leading the Department of Government Efficiency, a unit focused on shrinking the federal workforce and ferreting out corruption.
The document does not specify what Tesla vehicles will be purchased by U.S. officials, but Musk’s Cybertruck, with its militaristic design and stainless steel exterior, could be an option.
After reports circulated Wednesday night of the State Department’s intent to purchase Tesla vehicles, the document was edited, at 9:12 p.m., and now says the federal contract is for $400 million worth of “armored electric vehicles,” but the word “Tesla” was removed.
Responding to a segment by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow about the $400 million contract, Musk wrote on X on Wednesday night: “Hey @Maddow, why the lie?”
The State Department and Musk did not return requests for comment.
Musk, who spent more than a quarter-billion dollars to help elect Trump, has used an X account devoted to DOGE to highlight what he views as excessive or unnecessary federal contracts.
As Musk’s deputies have gained access to nearly two dozen federal agencies, ethics experts have raised concern about the billionaire running into conflicts of interest, since Musk runs six companies, some of which are under investigation by government authorities. Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, also have multi-billion-dollar contracts with the federal government.
Most of the federal money Musk has received has gone to SpaceX, the rocket company, for projects including work for NASA to launch Musk’s Starship with astronauts to the moon.
A new Cybertruck starts at around $82,000, and about 38,000 were sold last year, according to Cox Automotive. Since the vehicle’s launch in 2019, the truck has faced complaints about rust, finger pinches and defective accelerator pedals.
The State Department document also shows that some Tesla competitors are expected to receive lucrative, yet considerably smaller, contracts for armored vehicles, including from BMW, which the document shows is set to supply about $40 million worth of SUVs to the federal government.
Defense Secretary Hegseth requires new ‘pledge’ for reporters at the Pentagon
The Pentagon is implementing new guidelines that will require journalists to sign a pledge and agree to report only approved and officially released information.
A neuroscientist explains how to break free from romantic infatuation
Academic and author Tom Bellamy, author of the book Smitten, explains how to recognize the signs of limerence, a romantic obsession characterized by extreme emotional highs and lows.
Flushable wipes and Iran: Water treatment facility adds cyber attacks to worry list
Water treatment workers are grappling with how to protect against a new threat: hackers burrowing into the system and wreaking havoc.
Social media is shattering America’s understanding of Charlie Kirk’s death
There is a deep schism in how Americans understand the assassination that took place a little more than a week ago and that gap is being widened by social media.
‘Monster Madness’: A sixth grader sent us this delightful podcast about Bigfoot
With help from his brother and some creative sound effects, an 11-year-old made us smile with his podcast. It's a finalist in this year's NPR Student Podcast Challenge.
Trump adds $100,000 fee for high-skilled foreign workers in major visa overhaul
The president signed executive orders that would charge companies $100,000 a year to hire a worker on an H1-B visa and allow wealthy foreigners to get a visa for $1,000,000.
