"U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the president's 2017 budget proposal includes $4 billion over 10 years for pilot projects, including a program to test self-driving cars by investing in technologically connected roads. He provided few other details on how the money would be spent if it comes to fruition."
That sounds to me like they are try to pick technologies to invest in. If that's the use of funds, I think it's a waste. Let the market choose the best tech.
The private sector can't install a network of communication technology to wirelessly link roads and self-driving cars on public property (plus you probably need to coordinate with the FCC). From my reading, it seems like they're investing in things that only the government has control over and at the request of private sector companies like Google who want clear national guidelines formed and are probably pushing for a new "connected road" infrastructure.
But if you still can't see that reading of it, then let's just agree that there aren't enough details released yet so let's just wait for more.
It doesn't read at all like the US Govt is investing in developing self-driving car technology, of course plenty of private automakers are already doing that, it looks like US Govt is investing in self-driving car public infrastructure and guidelines.