Art of the Deal The Trump Administration Might Just Spend $400 Million on Armored TeslasTrump's State Department expects to spend $400 million on 'armored' vehicles made by special government employee Elon Musk's electric vehicle company February 12, 2025Tesla CEO Elon Musk introducing the prototype of a Cybertruck in 2019.FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty ImagesAs Elon Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues its punitive onslaught against government agencies in what he claims is an effort to reduce wasteful spending, his own companies continue to enjoy lucrative federal contracts. Tesla and SpaceX have been awarded some $230 million worth of contracts so far in 2025, on top of billions claimed over the past several years.Now, as first reported by Drop Site News, it appears that President Donald Trumps State Department, led by Marco Rubio, expects to pay $400 million for some kind of armored Tesla vehicles. But dont worry Musk, now a special government employee for Trump, has assured the public that potential conflicts of interest as he unilaterally decides where government funds are directed will not be an issue.The prospective $400 million budget item appears on the latest version of the State Deptartments procurement forecast, updated on Dec. 23, during Trumps transition period and one month before his inauguration. The largest contract in the document, its expected to span five years, and describes a planned purchase of Armored Tesla (Production Units). It does not specify whether this refers to Cybertrucks, though Musk has touted the toughness of the Tesla vehicles stainless steel exterior and called it a futuristic battle tank. The truck, however, has been criticized for its production quality, which has resulted in multiple recalls since its debut in 2023. Retail sales have disappointed.The Trump White House, State Department, nor Musk immediately responded to requests for comment on the procurement forecast for the armored vehicles, which has an anticipated award date of Sept. 30.As head of DOGE, Musk led the push to close the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, calling it a criminal organization. The agency has been shuttered and absorbed under the State Department, and most of its staff is on the chopping block.On Tuesday, Trump said hes not worried about potential conflicts of interest arising out of Musks role overseeing agencies that provide his companies huge contracts.If we thought that, we would not let him do that segment or look in that area, if we thought there was a lack of transparency or a conflict of interest, said Trump, adding: Hes a big businessman. Hes a successful guy. Thats why we want him doing this.The president separately claimed, without evidence, that Musks team at DOGE has uncovered billions and billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse. If Musk and DOGE want to knock out a real big-ticket item, it looks like the State Department is prepared to spend $400 million on armored Teslas. Is that really necessary? In this article:PoliticsPolitics News