Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy testified April 2 before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, to present the Trump administration’s approach to reauthorization of the Surface Transportation legislation set to expire on September 30, 2026. Duffy did not offer much detail but emphasized the need for innovation and efforts to expedite project delivery.
The National Governor’s Association (NGA) report in their 2025 State of the State or Territory addresses that Governors showcased both infrastructure success stories in their jurisdictions and set out legislative and other priorities for the year ahead for different types of infrastructure. Common themes emerging from the remarks include the importance of infrastructure investment in supporting long-term economic growth, sustainability and quality of life for future generations.
The American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) has been grading the condition of America’s infrastructure since 1998 with most report cards showing little headway being made in addressing existing needs. With the significant increase in Federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act many looked to see if it helped lift the condition of the various infrastructure categories. According to ASCE’s most recent report, the Biden-era infusion of federal funding helped improve the condition of the country’s infrastructure, bringing it up from a “C-” to a “C” grade. It shows grade increases in eight of the 18 categories assessed, many of which had long been stuck at a “D-” or “D.”
President Trump signed a continuing resolution funding the government through Sept. 30, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown. The crucial vote came in the Senate when 10 Democrats join with Republicans in approving the measure as sent over from the House. While most programs will be funded at FY 2024 levels, the legislation calls for cuts of $15 billion from current funding levels for discretionary non-Defense programs and increases defense spending by about $6 billion over current budgets — including billions for deportations, veterans’ health care and the military. Highway program levels were approved at the amount authorized for FY 2025 increasing funding by $1.2 billion over FY 24.
The seemingly never ending battle to bring reasonable rules to the definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) took a positive turn when EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the agency had worked with the Army Corps of Engineers on new guidance clarifying the WOTUS definition to comport with the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision. In 2023 the court voted 5-4 that not all wetlands should be considered a water of the United States and therefore subject to the regulations implementing the Clean Water Act. Zeldin also announced a comment period to solicit input for developing a final rule.
The Trump administration has nominated Sean McMaster – an executive with the Boeing aerospace company and a former vice president with infrastructure consulting firm HNTB – to be the next administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.
McMaster previously served as deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation as well as deputy assistant secretary for Congressional affairs from 2017 to 2019.
Prior to joining USDOT, McMaster served with the professional staff for the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure from 2011 to 2017.
He also worked as deputy chief of staff for former Rep. John Mica (R-FL), a longtime congressional leader in transportation policy and infrastructure development, including as chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
One of President Trump’s first Executive Orders directed that funds from the Inflation Reduction Act earmarked for climate change projects be clawed back. Roll Call news reports that state transportation officials are calling for these funds to be directed to vital road and bridge repairs instead. Republicans negotiating the nation’s next big infrastructure bill seem amenable to the idea, as long as it means they can move funding away from green projects and toward “traditional” ones.
The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) has released a report about the impacts of recent Executive Orders and funding freezes on America’s locally led conservation delivery system, including conservation districts and the producers and communities they serve. The report was informed by a survey the association distributed to conservation districts last month, which received over 350 responses from across 45 states and territories.
Here are four dynamics from Punchbowl News you should keep an eye on as Congress moves into the really difficult part of advancing Trump’s agenda.
So says Senate Majority Leader John Thune. When you want to get something done on Capitol Hill, having the Senate Majority Leader leading your cause is a good thing. Here is what Senator Thune recently said as Congress prepares to consider a major tax bill.