Weblog initially posted right here by Transportation for America and is reposted right here with permission.
The federal authorities owes communities upwards of $125.6 billion {dollars} in federal contract obligations from the infrastructure regulation however President Trump is threatening to renege on the federal government’s legally binding commitments. Right here’s how a lot they owe for transportation.
How a lot transportation cash is being threatened in your group and state? Try this spreadsheet of all infrastructure regulation funding presently in danger.
The promised “Golden Age” of journey is already in want of some roadside help.
Amidst a wave of day-one actions by the brand new administration, President Trump signed the Unleashing American Power govt order on January 20, 2025, focusing on the earlier administration’s prime priorities. Whereas the rhetoric was targeted on stopping spending on range and inclusion, and local weather and electrical autos applications, the language was unclear and indiscriminately paused all spending for all applications beneath the Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act and Inflation Discount Act. This set the administration as much as violate binding, authorized contracts paying for every little thing from practice tracks to site visitors lights.
Practically everybody was shocked and confused, together with teams like AASHTO which represents state departments of transportation.
The subsequent day, the Workplace of Administration and Finances (OMB) launched steering (M-25-11) trying to stroll again the scope of the day before today’s order. Whereas nonetheless leaving issues muddied, the administration was capable of articulate its meant motion to officers: there can be a halt on new obligations for a bunch of electrical car and community-focused applications, however legally required disbursements to obligated initiatives would proceed.
On Monday of this week, in obvious disregard of the occasions of the earlier week, the OMB issued a brand new memo (M-25-13) issuing an undefined “short-term pause” on “all actions associated to obligation or disbursement of all federal monetary help,” increasing the scope of the Unleashing American Power govt order from the earlier administration’s signature applications to just about each single federally funded undertaking and program within the nation. A slew of latest paperwork circulated by the admin has completed little to light up the administration’s intentions, with paperwork calling for particular person company workers to determine if particular person applications, together with these which can be defunct, occur to battle with the brand new administration’s priorities.
Whereas a federal choose put a short-term pause on this funding freeze earlier than it was to enter impact late Tuesday, it isn’t clear if the Trump administration will pause. Subsequently, with all federal funding frozen, every little thing from federally sponsored lunches to efforts that struggle avian flu is in limbo. Admittedly, transportation initiatives are nowhere close to as pressing, however that’s our area and the place we’ll focus.
UPDATE 1/29/25 1:15 p.m. ET The Washington Publish is reporting that this OMB steering is being rescinded. “In a memo dated Wednesday and distributed to federal companies, Matthew J. Vaeth, performing director of the White Home Workplace of Administration and Finances, states that OMB memorandum M-25-13 ‘is rescinded.’” This marks the second time in every week that steering affecting huge swaths of transportation spending has been issued after which rescinded or clarified. They backed off final week however then went larger with this OMB steering that’s now rescinded. Nobody ought to anticipate the story to finish right here. You must completely proceed to name and e mail your Senators and consultant, your USDOT contacts, the administration, and the media to make clear in the event that they plan to reinstitute an identical freeze for a third time, in addition to the present and future standing of all ongoing transportation initiatives and energetic grants. [End update]
Federal transportation funding is at all times flowing to all ranges of presidency. Every little thing on a spectrum from small grant applications (like Secure Streets and Roads for All grants), to the Federal Freeway Administration’s largest method program to states (the Nationwide Freeway Efficiency Program) are affected with out ample clarification concerning the impacts on energetic initiatives.
Assume this pause will immediately have an effect on initiatives in your group. To get solutions on what this would possibly imply in your undertaking and the way lengthy this pause will final, we strongly encourage you to let folks know concerning the affect a pause or cancellation of your undertaking could have.
Attain out to your contact at USDOT (or elsewhere within the administration) and ask them to make clear in case your undertaking is stopped and for a way lengthy. Allow them to know the affect of even a pause. Figuring out that there’s an upcoming deadline earlier than furloughs or occasions that must be canceled would possibly assist them to make selections extra rapidly.
Contact your federal representatives within the Home and the Senate to allow them to learn about your undertaking and get their assist to hurry a willpower about your undertaking and get the funds flowing once more. Ask them to make clear the standing of your undertaking and clarify why it’s or shouldn’t be transferring ahead. In case your member of Congress attended an occasion or put out a press launch saying your grant, recommend they take an identical motion to clarify the standing of the undertaking beneath this order.
Make sure that your state, county, and native elected officers learn about your undertaking and the affect this order could have. They can make it easier to get solutions. (Plus, they could be making an attempt to get a deal with on every little thing inside their jurisdiction that’s impacted and determine methods to assist.) Right here’s an on-line device which will make it easier to discover your native and state-level officers.
Name reporters to allow them to learn about your undertaking in order that they will get a way of the affect to your areas. Ask them the identical questions you might be asking USDOT and your elected leaders—does this order have an effect on our undertaking and why? See if they will write about this and make it easier to get details about what’s taking place.
This order might have immense implications for states’ economies and local-level priorities. In 2022, federal funding made up over a 3rd of states’ revenues. Alternatively, it’s clear that this motion was not thought out. The final 7 days have been chaotic, and we are able to make sure that the subsequent 7 days shall be too.
Don’t make any assumptions about the place issues are heading. Quite than issuing declarations and statements, contain those that made these selections and people who have oversight powers over the administration in these questions and challenges. They should personal this mess and determine it out.
Fill their cellphone traces and inboxes up with so many “do you all know what this implies?” questions that they’ll assume twice about doing this type of factor once more.
Click on the picture under to view a spreadsheet of all IIJA funding presently in danger.
