The US Department of Energy has faced criticism on social media after an official post on X appeared to leave Vermont off a map showing planned energy projects across the country. The graphic was shared as the department announced federal funding negotiations for 63 Tribal-led energy initiatives worth more than $125 million. Although the post was intended to highlight investments in energy infrastructure for Tribal communities, users quickly noticed that Vermont was missing from the map. The omission prompted questions about how the graphic had been created and whether the department had checked its accuracy before publishing it.

The Department of Energy’s official X account posted the graphic alongside a message highlighting investments intended to improve energy infrastructure in Tribal communities and lower energy costs for Americans. The map offered a visual overview of the locations of planned projects across several states, with Alaska and Oklahoma showing high concentrations. However, the apparent absence of Vermont became the focus of the discussion, overshadowing the funding announcement. One user posted a simple question asking, “Vermont?” while others criticised the department for what they described as a basic geographical error.

Some users speculated that artificial intelligence may have been involved in creating the graphic, although the department did not publicly confirm that AI was used. One commenter questioned whether the map had been generated using AI, while another urged the agency to use an accurate map. Other responses included remarks such as “So you failed geography,” reflecting the frustration expressed by users over the apparent omission. The criticism highlighted wider concerns about government agencies using digital graphics for public communication without ensuring that maps and other visual information are accurate.

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The controversy came after the Department of Energy announced on October 22 that it had selected 63 Tribal-led energy projects for funding negotiations involving more than $125 million in federal support. The initiatives are intended to address energy infrastructure needs in Tribal communities, including electrifying homes that currently lack electricity, converting existing buildings to natural gas heating systems and modernising local energy infrastructure. The selections are part of the administration’s broader energy policy and are aligned with President Donald Trump’s “Unleashing American Energy” executive order. The department has said the initiatives are intended to improve energy access and affordability for Tribal households.

According to the Department of Energy, Tribal households face energy costs approximately 28% higher than the national average, while around 17,000 Tribal residences lack access to electricity. The proposed projects are intended to help address these gaps by supporting infrastructure improvements and expanding access to reliable energy services. The department’s funding announcement therefore concerned communities facing significant energy-access challenges, even as the map’s apparent omission of Vermont drew attention online. The $125 million figure relates to funding negotiations for the selected initiatives rather than confirmation that every project has already received final funding approval.

The incident adds to scrutiny of the Trump administration’s public communications, particularly when official social media posts contain maps, graphics or other visual material that attracts widespread attention. While the missing state prompted criticism, the department’s announcement focused on improving energy access in Tribal communities. As of the report’s publication, there was no publicly reported explanation from the department for Vermont’s absence from the graphic. The episode illustrates how a visual error in an official government post can quickly become a subject of public debate, particularly when the information is shared through widely followed social media accounts.

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