Your question highlights concerns about government spending efficiency, specifically regarding three large allocations: $12 billion for Navy submarines, $42.5 billion for high-speed internet, and $7.5 billion for EV charging stations. Let’s break this down based on available information and address where the money might have gone, while noting that exact answers require detailed audits beyond what’s publicly accessible as of March 08, 2025.
Navy Submarines: $12 Billion, No Submarines Built?
The claim that $12 billion was allocated to the Navy for submarines with none built has circulated widely, notably on X, where users have expressed frustration over apparent waste. However, this doesn’t fully align with documented Navy spending. The Virginia-class submarine program, for instance, has received billions annually for construction, with ships actively being built—though delays and cost overruns are well-known. For example, in FY 2024, $7.13 billion was appropriated for two Virginia-class submarines, and as of August 2024, an additional $1 billion was added to complete that buy, according to USNI News. The Columbia-class program, budgeted at around $130 billion for 12 submarines over time, has seen its lead ship (USS District of Columbia) under construction since 2021, with costs rising to $15.03 billion for that vessel alone.
So where did the $12 billion figure come from, and why the "no submarines built" claim? It’s possible this refers to a specific supplemental request or a misinterpretation of funding timelines. In 2023, the White House requested $3.4 billion to bolster the submarine industrial base (not directly for building submarines), part of a broader $50 billion package. Posts on X suggest a $12 billion allocation tied to Senator Collins, but no single, clear $12 billion line item matches this exact narrative in official records. Instead, funds are often spread across years, shipyards, and suppliers, with production lagging due to workforce shortages, supply chain issues, and the complexity of nuclear submarine construction. As of now, submarines are being built—just not at the pace or cost initially hoped. The money likely went to shipbuilders like General Dynamics Electric Boat, suppliers, and infrastructure, though inefficiencies and delays mean tangible results (completed submarines) are slow to materialize.
High-Speed Internet: $42.5 Billion, No Connections?
The $42.5 billion figure likely refers to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocated $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet nationwide. Critics, including posts on X, claim "not one person" has been connected, but this oversimplifies the situation. As of late 2024, Politico and USA Today report that no households have been connected directly under BEAD because the program is structured as a long-term initiative. States must submit detailed plans to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and only after approval can construction begin. By October 2024, $24 billion had been made available to states for construction, and $250 million had already been spent on planning.
The money isn’t "missing"—it’s tied up in a bureaucratic process designed to ensure funds are used effectively, though it’s frustratingly slow. The NTIA says projects won’t launch in earnest until 2025, meaning tangible connections are still pending. Meanwhile, separate programs (e.g., $25 billion from the American Rescue Plan) have connected people, but BEAD’s specific $42.5 billion remains unspent on actual hookups as of now. It’s in state coffers, contractor agreements, and administrative overhead, awaiting deployment.
EV Charging Stations: $7.5 Billion, Only 37 Built?
The $7.5 billion comes from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, also under the 2021 infrastructure law, aimed at building a nationwide network of EV charging stations. The claim of "only 37 stations built" for $200 million each is an exaggeration rooted in early reporting. A March 2024 Washington Post article noted just 7 stations with 38 charging ports completed after two years. However, by October 2024, the Federal Highway Administration reported 20 stations with 81 ports operational across 9 states, with more under construction. The "$200 million per station" figure divides $7.5 billion by 37, but this ignores that most of the funds haven’t been spent yet—they’re allocated over time.
Where’s the rest? The program is still ramping up. Funds go to states, which award contracts to private companies for planning, site selection, and construction. Costs include land acquisition, equipment, and grid upgrades—not just the chargers themselves. Progress is slow due to regulatory hurdles and coordination challenges, but the money isn’t "gone"—it’s committed to a pipeline of projects, with billions still unspent as of early 2025.
Where Is the Rest of the Money?
Across all three cases, the "missing" money isn’t necessarily misappropriated but reflects systemic issues:
- Delays: Complex projects like submarines and infrastructure take years, and funds are spent incrementally on planning, labor, and materials before results appear.
- Overhead: Administrative costs, contractor fees, and compliance eat into budgets.
- Inefficiency: Bureaucracy and supply chain bottlenecks (e.g., submarine parts shortages) slow progress.
- Miscommunication: Public expectations don’t match the timelines Congress set, fueling perceptions of waste.
Without specific audits, we can’t pinpoint every dollar. For submarines, it’s likely in the industrial base (shipyards, suppliers). For internet and EV stations, it’s in planning and early contracts. Waste or fraud could be factors—government spending often lacks transparency—but the bulk is tied to slow execution, not disappearance. Congressional oversight and GAO reports (e.g., on Columbia-class costs) continue to probe these issues, but definitive answers require deeper investigation beyond current public data.
