State Department plans $400 million payment to Tesla after regulatory firings
The State Department announced plans to pay Tesla $400 million for unspecified services, coming weeks after Trump systematically fired federal officials investigating Elon Musk’s companies. The payment followed the removal of FDA staffers reviewing Neuralink, EEOC leaders investigating Tesla discrimination, the NLRB Chair pursuing SpaceX complaints, and CFPB staff examining Musk’s financial ventures. This represented a direct quid pro quo where regulatory relief was followed by massive government payments to Musk’s companies.
Key Actors
Sources (24)
- Warren Exposes $400 Million Tesla Payment After Regulatory Purge (2025-04-29)
- State Department to Pay Tesla $400 Million Following Regulatory Changes (2025-04-01)
- A new document undercuts Trump admin's denials about $400 million Tesla deal (2025-02-24)
- Was Elon Musk, the face of President Donald Trump's effort to slash federal spending, really in line to receive a $400 million purchase order of armored Tesla vehicles from the State Department? No, the department says. (2025-02-13)
- Meeks, Moskowitz Call on Rubio to Explain $400 Million in Contracts to Elon Musk's Tesla (2025-03-15)
- Trump administration fires staff of program that helps low-income households pay for heat [Tier 1]
- LIHEAP DCL 2025-02 Final Funding Release Federal Fiscal Year 2025 [Tier 1]
- Heating costs expected to jump 9.2 percent this winter [Tier 1]
- 2025 Pulitzer Prizes recognize corruption reporting (2025-04-01)
- Reuters wins Pulitzer for systematic regulatory failure investigation (2025-04-01)
- WSJ wins for Musk-Putin coordination reporting (2025-04-01)
- Rural internet program on hold as Musk's satellites get new consideration (2025-04-01)
- Trump's changes to a $42 billion broadband program could be a win for Musk's Starlink (2025-03-28)
- Elon Musk's Starlink business could soon tap into $42 billion federal program (2025-03-06)
- Trump announces deal with law firm that employs Doug Emhoff (2025-04-01)
- Trump Strikes Deal With Willkie Farr, Law Firm Home to Doug Emhoff (2025-04-01)
- Trump announces $100M deal with law firm tied to Doug Emhoff, Jan. 6 House panel (2025-04-01)
- Doug Emhoff's law firm Wilkie said to make deal to avoid Trump sanctions (2025-04-01)
- Arson attack on Pennsylvania governor mansion forces family evacuation (2025-04-01)
- FBI investigating attack on Pennsylvania Governor's residence (2025-04-01)
- Shapiro family safe after targeted arson attack on governor's mansion (2025-04-01)
- EPA chemical safety rollbacks (2025-04-01)
- TCE Is Linked to Heart Defects in Babies, Cancer and Parkinson's. Republicans in Congress Want to Reverse a Ban on It. (2025-01-25)
- Trump puts industry insiders in charge of overseeing chemical safety (2025-01-23)
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