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 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included reauthorization of the highway and transit programs, added $550 billion in new spending — including many discretionary grant programs for transit, rail and funding for EV charging equipment. Duffy said DOT has spent much of the time since taking office finalizing agreements for the 3200 project grants already approved. Duffy also reassured the committee that the funds already apportioned to states under the traditional funding formula would be honored.
EPW Chair Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., who voted in favor of the 2021 law, expressed concern about the direction of the programs. Capito said her goals for the bill revolve around “optimizing” federal investments in transportation, boosting efficiency and avoiding “top-down mandates” by allowing states more leeway with how they invest their surface transportation funding. “Optimizing” federal investments, she said, should include eliminating “duplicative programs that often invite regulatory overreach” and increasing funding for formula programs instead.