New details have emerged regarding the $400 million US government contract for “armored Tesla” vehicles, raising questions about its legitimacy.
Earlier this month, reports surfaced that the US State Department’s 2025 budget forecast included a $400 million allocation for armored Tesla vehicles. This item was added after the US election but before Trump took office in January.
After public scrutiny, the State Department put the program on hold and later reworded the contract item, replacing “Tesla” with “EV.” The Trump administration insisted that discussions with Tesla began under Biden’s leadership.
However, an NPR investigation has revealed inconsistencies. Sources familiar with the initial talks under Biden’s administration stated that discussions were focused on researching armored EVs, and a budget of less than $500,000 was set for 2025.
A former State Department official, speaking anonymously, suggested the $400 million jump was not a mistake but a decision made by a new official within the department.
When questioned again, a State Department spokesperson claimed the $400 million figure was merely an estimate for information gathering and clarified that there is no intention to move forward with the solicitation.
