The U.S. Department of Transportation is opening a floodgate of funding for infrastructure projects that it contends were being held up by diversity, equity and inclusion requirements.
"America is building again," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. "The last administration liked to grab the headlines but didn't want to do the hard work of building."
"They also tied road construction up with red tape and leftist social requirements – adding millions in costs and months of delay – all while our outdated infrastructure sat in disrepair."
The statement came in conjunction with $3.2 billion in grants funneled to more than 3,200 projects that were identified on Tuesday.
Federal grants for infrastructure replacement or renovation typically require local matching funds that are often raised through bond sales.
According to DOT, "The Trump Administration inherited a record number of 3,200 unobligated grants that had been announced by the previous administration but never obligated."
To relieve the backlog the department is focused on eliminating the "social cost of carbon accounting, pointless greenhouse gas emission reporting, and discriminatory DEI language."
President Trump's 2026 budget request contains cuts to every government agency except the Veteran's Administration, Defense, Homeland Security and DOT which is slated for a 6% boost.
The grants breakdown on Tuesday includes $1.95 million for the FAA's Airport Improvement Program and $277.1 million for the Airport Terminal Program.
The Federal Highway Administration scored $1.4 billion for the Bridge Investment Program which includes a reaffirmed $550 million commitment to help rebuild the toll-supported I-10 bridge and Bayway in Mobile Ala.
The long languishing $3.5 billion project is scheduled to start construction sometime this year pending negotiations between the state and the city of Mobile.
The same bridge was slated for a major makeover in 2019, but the plans were abandoned when it was revealed that tolls could have risen to $6 a trip as opposed to their current cost of $2.50.
The Federal Railroad Administration, Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements program netted $221 million in grants.
The Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail landed $30 million and $25 million is going to railroad crossing eliminations projects.
The Federal Transit Administration lands $494 million for low or no emission bus grants with tribal transit getting $3.5 million.
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The DOT included a
The list includes considerations of climate change and environmental justice impacts that covers greenhouse gas emissions, the installation of electric vehicle charging stations, and environmental issues.
Per the DOT, "Removing these requirements will save taxpayers millions. Road construction costs skyrocketed roughly 70% under the last administration.
"The greenhouse gas reporting burden alone increased project costs and added months to the permitting process."
