Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a memorandum to Department of Transportation (DOT) staff ordering that “effective immediately” priority in DOT programs, grants, and financial assistance be given to communities that “cooperate with Federal immigration enforcement” and “communities with marriage and birth rates higher than the national average.” This includes “all DOT grants, loans, contracts, and DOT-supported or assisted state contracts,” including the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Program. Secretary Duffy also directs DOT agencies to prioritize projects that “utilize user-pay models,” and “direct funding to local opportunity zones.” Secretary Duffy also intends to condition DOT funding on “local compliance or cooperation…with other goals and objectives specified by the President.” To effectuate this order, DOT agencies are directed to “[r]eview their existing grant agreements, loan agreements, and contracts, and, to the extent permitted by law, unilaterally amend the general terms and conditions as necessary to ensure…consistency with this Order.” They are also directed to revise language in all DOT awards, grants, loan agreements, and financial assistance going forward to be consistent with this order.
