Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg met with Company X on Monday to fact-check misleading claims about the status of the Biden administration’s efforts to raise electric vehicle rates.
Early that morning, Michael Lurie claimed He said the federal government spent $7.5 billion to build eight electric vehicle charging stations, “while millions of people struggle to get what they need and no one wants.” “It’s proof that we’re wasting billions of dollars on things.” President-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr. retweeted Luli’s message claims that the program “doesn’t seem like a great return on investment…but he ticked the box that woke him up, so it’s worth it.”
In response to the posts, Buttigieg said the information was “false.”
“First of all, $7.5 billion is not being spent and never will be. This is NEVI’s entire program budget. [National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure] “This program will help build a nationwide charging network by 2030,” the official said. I wrote within the thread.
“Second, nine states currently have chargers in operation (just to be clear, this does not mean nine chargers), but these are just the first few.” It’s just a handful. Most will be built in the late ’20s,” he added. “Third, under this program, the chargers will be manufactured by the states, not the federal government, and while it will take time to roll out a new multibillion-dollar program to the 50 states, each state is well on its way. I’m here.”
The exchange caught the attention of Trump ally and EV maker Elon Musk. said Buttigieg’s information was “helpful for understanding.”
Despite Buttigieg’s pushback, conservatives aren’t the only ones concerned about the slow rollout of the bipartisan infrastructure bill’s $7.5 billion plan to boost EV charging stations.
As of March of this year, Seven stations were built in four states..
“I think a lot of people looking at this are starting to worry about the timeline,” said Alexander Laska, deputy director of transportation and innovation at the center-left think tank Third Way. saidwashington post at that time.
The Department of Transportation has approved plans for additional NEVI projects in all 50 states. According to the website.
The exchange about X also serves as a reminder of Musk’s unique position within the incoming administration, combining personal interests with public policy.
As chairman of the Trump administration’s non-governmental DOGE Commission on Cutting Government Spending, Musk could have significant influence over the federal budget, which currently awards contracts and subsidies to Musk companies such as SpaceX and Tesla. There is sex.
Despite publicly boasting that Tesla doesn’t need subsidies, the world’s richest man recently said he would reinstate the consumer EV tax credit if President Trump implements expected cuts. It strongly criticized California’s plan and enacted a state policy that may not include Tesla. .
The billionaire called the proposal “insane.”
