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Trump’s USDOT Nominee Confirms Continuation of Tesla Safety Investigations

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President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Sean Duffy, confirmed that ongoing investigations into Tesla’s advanced driver assistance system will continue under his leadership. During a U.S. Senate hearing, Duffy expressed his commitment to allowing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to complete its probe into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, which is under investigation after four collisions, including a fatal crash in 2023.

The investigation involves 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the FSD software, and Duffy assured lawmakers that the probe would proceed without interference. Senator Ed Markey pressed Duffy to ensure that NHTSA would operate independently, regardless of political pressures, to which Duffy responded, “I will let NHTSA do their investigation.”

Tesla, which did not respond immediately to requests for comment, has faced increased scrutiny over its driver-assistance systems as the company transitions toward self-driving technology. In addition to the FSD investigation, NHTSA recently launched a separate inquiry into 2.6 million Tesla vehicles concerning a feature called Actually Smart Summon. This system, which allows users to remotely move their cars, has been linked to crashes due to failure to detect obstacles or parked vehicles, prompting further concern over Tesla’s safety protocols.

In December 2023, Tesla recalled over 2 million U.S. vehicles to address safety issues related to the Autopilot system. NHTSA is still investigating whether the recall measures sufficiently mitigate the risk of driver inattention.

Duffy also mentioned that he would review the Federal Aviation Administration’s proposed fine of $633,000 against Musk’s SpaceX for violations of launch license regulations.

 

TikTok Prepares to Shut Down U.S. Operations as Ban Deadline Approaches

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TikTok is preparing to shut down its U.S. operations on Sunday, as a federal ban is set to take effect barring its use unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests the app. This follows a law signed in April mandating a ban on new TikTok downloads and the prohibition of U.S. companies providing services for its distribution or maintenance. Although users who have already downloaded the app could still access it, the law restricts the ability to update or provide services to TikTok starting Sunday.

In response to the imminent shutdown, TikTok plans to display a pop-up message directing users to a website explaining the situation. Additionally, the company will give users the option to download their personal data. Despite the looming deadline, there are discussions around a potential delay. President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering issuing an executive order to suspend enforcement of the ban for up to 90 days. This proposal comes as the Biden administration is exploring options to delay the ban, possibly leaving the decision to the incoming president.

The situation remains fluid, with ongoing court deliberations. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to decide whether to uphold or pause the law. If TikTok is banned, it could lead to a broader impact, potentially making the app unavailable in other countries, as U.S.-based service providers play a crucial role in making TikTok accessible worldwide. TikTok has expressed concerns that the ban could make its operations unsustainable, with data centers unable to store the platform’s content and code.

While TikTok works to comply with the law, it has stated that a temporary suspension could allow for a swift restoration of its U.S. services if the ban is reversed later.

 

As Musk Gains Influence, Questions Hover Over U.S. Probes into His Empire

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In the final days of the Biden administration, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) gave Elon Musk a tight deadline to settle or face civil charges related to alleged securities violations during his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022. Musk broke the news on social media, posting a sarcastic comment aimed at SEC Chair Gary Gensler, questioning the motives behind the ultimatum and hinting at potential political influences.

The SEC is far from the only agency scrutinizing Musk’s business empire. Musk has long criticized government oversight, positioning himself as a victim of regulatory overreach hindering his companies’ innovations. With the imminent inauguration of Donald Trump, Musk’s influence over the U.S. government has raised concerns about how ongoing federal investigations into his companies—SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink—might be handled.

At least 20 investigations are reportedly ongoing into Musk’s companies, ranging from security violations related to Tesla’s Autopilot system to alleged animal-welfare violations at Neuralink. Despite these investigations, the approaching Trump administration has prompted questions about whether the probes might be dropped or sidelined due to Musk’s relationship with Trump.

Musk’s close ties with Trump are evident—he has called himself Trump’s “first buddy,” visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, and publicly supported his political appointments. Trump has even appointed Musk to co-lead a private advisory group on government efficiency, which Musk has said could help reshape national driverless-vehicle regulations to benefit Tesla.

Concerns Over Political Interference

The potential for political interference has become a topic of debate. While some experts suggest that prosecutors may still push forward with investigations if they have sufficient evidence, others argue that lower-level officials could avoid aggressive prosecution to appease the incoming administration. In particular, Trump’s DOJ appointments, many of whom have defended him in the past, could exercise discretion to protect Musk’s companies.

Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink have all faced their own legal hurdles. For Tesla, a DOJ investigation is looking into whether Musk and Tesla misled investors by exaggerating the self-driving capabilities of their vehicles. Meanwhile, SpaceX faces scrutiny over pollution and regulatory violations, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) taking action.

Despite this, SpaceX has largely avoided major regulatory challenges due to its extensive contracts with NASA and the U.S. government, which have outsourced much of the nation’s space exploration to Musk’s company.

Musk’s reported contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin also raise concerns, but it is unlikely that the Trump administration will scrutinize these interactions, given Musk’s ties to the incoming administration and the fact that he has worked closely with Jared Isaacman, a tech entrepreneur who is now involved with NASA.

Ongoing Scrutiny and Potential Shifts

As Trump prepares to take office, the future of federal probes into Musk’s companies remains uncertain. While some experts downplay the risk of political interference, others warn that the shift in power could influence how aggressively the investigations move forward.