Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has come under fire from Republicans for tying billions of dollars in taxpayer funds to what they call “woke initiatives.” An internal memorandum circulated among lawmakers by Senate Commerce Committee Republicans, spearheaded by Ranking Member Ted Cruz, criticizes the Department of Transportation (DOT) for prioritizing left-wing priorities over infrastructure projects. The memo specifically targets three grant programs managed by the DOT, which are essential for funding surface transportation projects across the country.
According to the memo, the DOT’s funding notices have shifted focus away from building roads, bridges, and highways to instead prioritize issues such as equity and climate change. Republicans argue that this approach is detrimental to America’s infrastructure and accuse the Biden administration of pushing the concept of “racist roads” to prevent necessary improvements. They emphasize that taxpayer dollars should be used for their intended purpose and not for advancing political agendas.
In response to Buttigieg’s announcement of the National Infrastructure Project Assistance, Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA), and Rural Surface Transportation Grant programs, Cruz wrote to the Government Accountability Office seeking confirmation that the DOT’s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is subject to the Congressional Review Act. The federal watchdog confirmed that the NOFO is indeed a rule and can be subject to congressional review.
Cruz plans to introduce a Congressional Review Act resolution challenging what he calls “woke” anti-highway policies in DOT grants. He aims to address issues such as framing road building as increasing “automobile dependence” and condemning highway expansion projects that do not include electric vehicle charging stations or bike lanes. The resolution also aims to oppose the Biden administration’s “anti-highway agenda.”
Left-wing groups and activists have long argued that U.S. cities historically used highway infrastructure to further racist discrimination. Buttigieg has acknowledged this issue and has been working to reverse past policies that led to discriminatory infrastructure decisions. He launched the Reconnecting Communities program, which aims to reverse infrastructure policies that divide communities and disconnect certain neighborhoods from economic opportunities.
Republicans argue that the DOT’s funding decision, which prioritizes equity and climate change, unfairly favors states seeking to expand mass transit and bike paths over states wanting to build roads. They believe that the added requirements on grant agreements are pernicious and go against the criteria set by law. They call on Congress to support Cruz’s resolution and oppose what they perceive as the Biden administration’s extreme views on climate and equity.
The Biden administration has not yet responded to these criticisms. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how this clash between Republicans and the DOT will impact infrastructure funding and the overall direction of transportation policy in the United States.
