The U.S. State Department has revised and changed its procurement forecast and predictions, removing the specific mention of the “Armored Tesla” vehicle from a planned $400 million purchase, Automotive News said.
This initial December document had listed this vehicle as a budget item for a five-year contract starting in 2025. The updated forecast now refers to “Armored Electric Vehicles,” entirely omitting Tesla’s name, according to Business Insider.
This revision follows reports from Drop Site News as well as The New York Times highlighting the potential conflict of interest due to Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to Automotive News.
Musk’s leadership in DOGE, which oversees government spending, has raised concerns about impartiality when one of his companies, Tesla, competes for government contracts, Time said.
Musk’s business ventures have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, particularly regarding government contracts. SpaceX has secured substantial defense contracts, doubling from $856 million in 2023 to $1.8 billion in 2024, ABC News said.
The U.S. State Department’s procurement forecast initially included a $400 million allocation for “Armored Teslas,” likely referring to Tesla’s Cybertruck. This item was later revised to “armored electric vehicles,” removing Tesla’s specific mention, Business Insider said.
Musk has expressed interest in military applications for the Cybertruck. Tesla has developed a military-grade version of the Cybertruck, known as the Cybertruck STING, in collaboration with Unplugged Performance and Archimedes Defense, according to Teslarati.
Additionally, the Cybertruck has been adapted for military use, with reports indicating its deployment in conflict zones, Wired said.
These developments underscore the complex interplay between Musk’s business interests and government contracts, highlighting the need for ongoing scrutiny to ensure transparency and mitigate potential conflicts of interest, according to Automotive News.
