Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Loading...Time left: ...
Loading...Goal: $500
Fact check: Did joe biden spend $3 BILLION to build 93 electric mail trucks in two years
Checked on December 17, 2024
1. Summary of the results
1. Summary of the results:
The statement contains accurate numbers but presents them in a misleading way. Congress allocated $3 billion through the Inflation Reduction Act for USPS vehicle modernization, and only 93 electric trucks have been delivered as of November 2024, despite higher initial expectations.
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints:
- This is part of a larger $10 billion project to purchase 60,000 Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs), with at least 45,000 being electric
- Production delays are due to specific technical challenges at Oshkosh Defense, including airbag issues, water leaks, and software problems
- The project timeline extends through 2028, not just two years
- Oshkosh is currently producing only one truck per day but expects to deliver 150 vehicles in 2024
- The Postal Service is exploring additional electric vehicle sources beyond Oshkosh
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement:
- The statement implies Biden personally spent the money, when it was actually Congressional funding through the Inflation Reduction Act
- It suggests the $3 billion was spent solely to produce 93 trucks, when this is just the initial delivery in a much larger fleet modernization program
- The two-year timeframe is misleading as the project was always planned for a longer implementation
- The framing benefits critics of government spending and electric vehicle initiatives, particularly Republican politicians who have threatened to claw back funding
- The statement omits that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Trump appointee, negotiated this funding with the Biden administration
Want to dive deeper?
Jamal Roberts gave away his winnings to an elementary school.
Did a theater ceiling really collapse in the filming of the latest Final Destination?
Is Rachel Zegler suing South Park?