Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, a prominent Republican, has launched a sharp attack on the Biden administration and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, accusing them of leaving an ‘unprecedented backlog’ of critical infrastructure safety projects. Duffy claimed that the Biden-Buttigieg administration failed to deliver on billions in pledged funds, resulting in a backlog of over 3,200 grants that were never actually obligated. These funds, totaling over $42 million, were meant to enhance rail safety on Florida’s Brightline high-speed rail network, which serves millions of passengers annually. Yet, under the previous administration, these grants were left unprocessed, according to the Department of Transportation.
Duffy emphasized that the Trump administration inherited these unfulfilled commitments, and under his leadership, the Department of Transportation has since taken steps to expedite the delivery of these funds to address long-standing infrastructure gaps. The grants, according to the department, included projects such as safety fencing, grade crossing upgrades, and trespassing alert systems. However, the administration has faced criticism for its handling of the East Palestine rail disaster in 2023, where a derailment released toxic materials, and Buttigieg initially blamed the Trump administration for reversing railroad regulations tied to a 2015 law. This incident marked one of Buttigieg’s most scrutinized moments during his tenure.
In response, a spokesperson for Buttigieg dismissed the DOT’s criticisms as ‘more of the same nonsense’ and argued that the Biden administration had made substantial progress in funding infrastructure, with over $390 billion allocated for more than 78,000 projects. The spokesperson highlighted that many of these projects require time to complete and pointed out that it is the role of the incoming administration to carry out the work once the previous administration hands over the responsibilities. The Trump administration’s spokesperson, on the other hand, accused the Biden-Buttigieg team of prioritizing ‘DEI programs’ and ‘socially sensitive language’ over real infrastructure investment, contrasting it with the speed and efficiency of the Trump-era efforts.
Duffy’s criticism has also led to broader political tensions, as the Trump administration continues to highlight the backlog as a criticism of the Biden administration’s policy execution. The debate over infrastructure funding has become a focal point in the ongoing political discourse, raising questions about the effectiveness of federal spending on critical projects. As the Biden administration faces increasing scrutiny over its ability to deliver on promised infrastructure goals, the situation highlights the challenges of intergovernmental coordination and the long-term impacts of funding delays on public safety and infrastructure development in the United States.