AASHTO Journal reports, a freeze memo issued last week by President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) could have disrupted the flow of federal transportation funding — including money destined for the states — although the administration was ultimately pressured to rescind it. The directive affected a wide range of federal programs involving discretionary grants, research funding and loans, which prompted AASHTO staff to seek immediate clarification and advocate for an exemption covering most of the transportation programs under USDOT jurisdiction, especially the Federal-aid Highway Program.
Jim Tymon, chief executive of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), commented “AASHTO will continue to work with USDOT to ensure that federal funding to states and related project management functions are fully restored.”
Confusion surrounding a Trump executive order on energy policy caused a brief suspension of highway reimbursement payments to states on January 21. AASHTO played a role in resolving the order’s ambiguity so that funding could resume.