Green leaning Gov. Murphy drops half million in COVID-19 relief funds on gas guzzling new SUVs

Phil Stilton

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on Tuesday defended his decision to spend a half million dollars of federal COVID-19 relief funds on a new fleet of SUVs to chauffer himself and administration lackeys around the state.

Nevermind the governor, who is pushing New Jerseyans to lower their carbon footprint through solar energy, electric stoves, and electric vehicles, buying a fleet of large gas-guzzling oversized SUVs.

Some are calling the purchase an ‘illegitimate’ expense.

Murphy’s entourage already had a fleet of SUVs to speed through small towns across the state under State Police escort.


Now, he has a brand new fleet, and he’s not ashamed one bit for the extravagant purchase using funds meant to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.


When asked about his purchase on News 12 New Jersey this week, Murphy responded, “It is what it is.”

“What we don’t want to do is start programs that cost money that we have to pay for as a state. That’s money the state doesn’t have to pay for. It frees us up to do something with resources elsewhere,” the governor said. “I feel quite comfortable.”

When pressed on the matter further, Murphy simply replied, “Let’s put it this way. I don’t think it’s illegitimate.”

While most of the federal COVID-19 relief funding went to pandemic-related expenses, in September, Murphy used roughly a half-million dollars on a new fleet of Chevrolet Suburbans. And not the EV type of Suburban due to release in 2025. We’re talking about the 15-mile-per-gallon 2022 models.

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