Tesla is expected to secure a significant contract from the U.S. State Department for armored vehicles, according to government procurement plans for 2025. These plans allocate $400 million for the purchase of Tesla armored vehicles, though the exact model is not specified. The Cybertruck, with its durable stainless steel construction, is considered the leading candidate due to its suitable features for armor enhancements.
Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, leads President Donald J. Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk contributed over $250 million to support Trump’s election after initially lending support to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s bid for the Republican nomination. The anticipated acquisition of Cybertrucks by a federal agency will likely see conflict of interest allegations leveled against the tech mogul.
At the time of publication, neither Tesla nor the State Department has commented on the procurement plans. However, Musk is a longtime government contractor through various entities under his leadership, having reportedly secured $13 billion in federal contracts over the last five years. SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace company, obtained the majority of these agreements, ranking among the top government contractors.
On January 1, a Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The only casualty was the vehicle’s occupant, special forces serviceman Matthew Livelsberger, with Musk boasting the Cybertruck’s design and robust construction had contained the blast. However, questions have been raised about the apparent car bombing, with Livelsberger’s uncle, Dean Livelsberger, arguing his “supersoldier” nephew could have caused a blast at least as devasting Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh if he had wanted to, given his training.
