U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced on March 10, 2025, the department has rescinded two memorandums issued during the Biden Administration which promote social justice and environmental agenda into decisions for critical infrastructure projects.
According to a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) press release, these “Biden-era memos displaced the long-standing authorities granted to states by law, added meritless and costly burdens related to greenhouse gas emissions and equity initiatives.”
Read more from our sibling publication, Roads & Bridges, on how the roads and bridges market is covering these actions as well as broader regulatory actions.
The Hill reports that one of the Biden era memorandums from 2021 pushed for states to invest in infrastructure that makes them safe for all users and make the transport networks resilient to climate change.
The second memo, from 2023, states that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) would focus on less vulnerable infrastructure that is more resilient to climate change, according to The Hill reporting. The 2021 memo was superseded by the 2023 memo.
A U.S. DOT Action Memorandum to the Secretary, submitted on March 7, 2025, listed the Biden era memorandums as “controversial,” and recommended they be rescinded.
