February 13, 2025
The small print have been launched in a State Division doc that particulars procurement for fiscal 12 months 2025.
NPR studies {that a} new report from the State Division reveals the Trump administration is predicted to buy $400 million value of armored Teslas. The small print have been launchd in a doc detailing procurement for fiscal 12 months 2025.
Curiously, the Trump administration is eyeing the acquisition of $400 million value of Teslas from Elon Musk, the chief govt of Tesla. The South African native can be a high White Home official whom Trump appointed because the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) head. Trump created DOGE to weed out extreme and pointless federal contracts. The company can be pushing for mass layoffs of civil servants to slash the federal funds.
It’s unclear how buying $400 million value of Tesla automobiles is a cost-efficient transfer.
As TIME studies, the State Division modified the doc’s wording as soon as studies emerged in regards to the plans. At 9:12 p.m., the doc was edited to take away Tesla. It now reveals that the federal contract is for $400 million value of “armored electrical automobiles.”
It’s additionally unclear which automobiles American taxpayers will likely be paying for, but it surely’s extremely probably that the present administration will assist Trump’s most costly donor, Musk, who spent a quarter-billion {dollars} to assist re-elect Trump.
Following the election, Trump appointed Musk to steer DOGE. Musk now has entry to greater than a dozen federal businesses. Critics have raised issues about the potential for conflicts of curiosity. Musk’s firm, SpaceX, additionally reportedly has multibillion-dollar contracts with the federal authorities. SpaceX is working with NASA to launch Musk’s Starship with astronauts to the moon. In the meantime, the Trump administration needs to slash NASA’s workforce and different federal businesses.
As NPR factors out, all indicators point out the federal authorities is buying Musk’s Cybertruck. Its militaristic design and chrome steel exterior could possibly be a high choice. The federal authorities informed TIME that no authorities contract has been awarded to Tesla or some other automobile producer right now.
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