Vice President Kamala Harris’ Clean School Bus initiative is under scrutiny after a Chinese electric vehicle company received $395,000 in federal funds from the program. BYD Americas, a subsidiary of BYD Company, received the funds to supply an electric bus to a California school district. Shortly after, the company’s president, Ke Li, donated $50,000 to the Biden-Harris campaign, raising questions about the connection between the funding and the political contributions.
Chinese-Owned EV Firm Executive Donated to Biden-Harris Campaign After Receiving Federal Subsidies
BYD Americas, a China-linked electric vehicle company, received $395,000 from the Biden-Harris administration's Clean School Bus program in 2022.— Robert L English (@DrBob_E) October 11, 2024
Ke Li, a Chinese national with residency in the U.S., contributed to the Harris Victory Fund and the Democratic National Committee in November 2023, just months after the grant was awarded. Federal law prohibits foreign nationals from donating to U.S. political campaigns, but Li’s green card status allows her to legally contribute.
Republicans have raised concerns about the implications of federal funds going to a company with close ties to China. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) criticized the arrangement, saying that programs meant to benefit U.S. infrastructure should not be supporting Chinese companies. “It’s unacceptable that American taxpayer dollars are flowing to firms that may undermine our national security,” Moolenaar said.
The corruption runs deep.
BYD Americas received $395,000 through the Biden-Harris administration’s Clean School Bus program in October 2022, according to Environmental Protection Agency documents. Ke Li, the president of BYD Americas, then made four large donations to support…
— Russ (@Russ02710550) October 11, 2024
BYD, which recently surpassed Tesla as the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer, has faced ongoing scrutiny over its links to the Chinese Communist Party. The company has been at the center of investigations into potential espionage, and its role in the Clean School Bus program has drawn sharp criticism.
The Biden administration has continued to defend the program, which was created as part of the 2021 infrastructure bill, but Republican lawmakers are calling for increased oversight of future grant recipients.
