Duffy pledges to “Get money out the door” for thousands of stalled projects 

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy pledges to get “money out the door” for stalled infrastructure projects.  According to Sec. Duffy, 3,200 construction projects are in limbo at the DOT awaiting grant approval. Duffy wants to streamline the process for States “so they can spend more time turning dirt and less time filling out paperwork.”  

The Secretary made his comments Wednesday when he appeared before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill.  

According to Committee Chair Sen. Shelley Capito (R-WV), the bill has three goals:  

1. Improve safety and reliability of America’s surface transportation network with impactful investment. 
2. Reform and modernize federal programs and processes to increase efficiency. 
3. Address a variety of surface transportation needs across states. 

The historic IIJA added about $550 Billion over baseline levels for various highway, bridge, rail, transit, airport and port and inland waterway projects.  The IIJA expires September 2026. While there was no mention of money to support the Reauthorization bill, Sec. Duffy reaffirmed his bipartisan approach to advancing transportation needs. 

“It is one of the unique spaces in government where we work together because safety…is not a red or blue issue,” said Sec. Duffy, “It’s an American issue.” 

Committee member Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) asked Duffy for specific ways the DOT can speed up projects to combat the rising cost of inflation. 

“The sooner we do it, the more cost effective it will be,” Duffy explained, “Congress has to do its work on reform and the DOT will streamline the process, reduce the cost of consulting and permitting.”  

Tensions ticked up briefly breaking the overall friendly hearing when ranking committee member Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) characterized the President’s executive orders as a “heresy hunt” asking if the “stripping of ‘equity and climate’” has slowed the process. 

“How many of the 3,200 stuck projects are stuck because of the Executive Orders?” asked Sen. Whitehouse. 

Duffy replied by saying volume, not language, is the cause of the delays.   

“But if you’re putting on additional requirements because of green or social justice it adds to the cost of the project,” Duffy argued, “we can protect the environment and move these projects faster.”  

Duffy promised to abide by the will of the Congress on bikes lane infrastructure and EV stations.  

“Bikes are healthy, and many times bikes move people faster,” Duffy added, “whether I agree with it (EV stations) or not you mandated it, so let’s do it well.”