New Department of Transportation Order Could Have Trickle-Down Effect for Austin Projects

Transportation and Infrastructure Policy attorney Joel Roberson was quoted in a KXAN News article detailing how changes in federal spending priorities could affect the city of Austin, Texas. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued orders adjusting how it will distribute funding to better align with the priorities of the new administration. Mr. Roberson explained that newly confirmed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy "is working to put his stamp and the stamp of President Trump on the Department of Transportation's federal spending" but also noted affected parties including local governments can challenge aspects of these decisions, such as the legal basis for tying federal funding to initiatives like immigration enforcement.

"[The Secretary and his team] will be looking at whether the law affords them that flexibility, and then will start implementing that," he said. "That decision can, of course, be challenged in law, and stakeholders could argue that the way that they've chosen to prioritize federal funding either goes beyond the statute or has a disparate impact to populations across the country."

READ: New Department of Transportation Order Could Have Trickle-Down Effect for Austin Projects