U.S. transportation would see deep cuts under House GOP bill

Congress has begun the work of crafting government funding bills for next year, with House Republicans proposing significant transportation grant funding cuts and blocking any money going to California’s controversial high speed rail project.

Local government grant programs also face reductions under GOP 2024 spending targets.

With about 25 session days left before the federal fiscal year ends on Sept. 30, the Senate and House have started committee work on the 12 separate appropriation bills. Staving off a shutdown on Oct. 1 carries additional urgency this year as the Memorial Day debt ceiling deal between the House Republicans and President Joe Biden requires across-the-board cuts of around 1% if no spending bills — or a continuing resolution — are in place by Jan. 1.

The automatic cuts may also apply to the roughly $68 billion in advance appropriations under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as well as funding allocated under the Inflation Reduction Act, according to Roll Call.

However, unlike formula and grant funding, Congress may enact a significant boost — up to 20% over 2023 levels — in earmark funding for projects in specific communities, according to the National League of Cities.

Top-line spending levels are already a point of contention. The Senate has said its target is $1.59 trillion, which was part of the McCarthy-Biden’s Fiscal Responsibility Act deal. The House has voted to hold spending to $1.47 trillion, which is flat to 2022 levels, under pressure from its hard right members.

“I am fearful … that we are on a trajectory, at best, for continuing resolutions. And at worst, a government shutdown,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said during a Wednesday markup.

The House GOP’s draft 2024 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development bill, which was marked up Wednesday, would feature deep cuts to transportation funds.

The bill allocates $90.2 billion in discretionary funding to the two agencies. It would tap $25 billion previously allocated to the IRS to bring the total cost down to $65.2 billion, marking a 25% decrease from fiscal 2023 enacted levels and 34% decrease from President Biden’s 2024 request.

Several transportation grant programs would be on the chopping block as the legislation cuts grants by 59%, or $6.6 billion, from 2023 levels.

It would eliminate new funding for the popular Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, and Mega grant programs, which already receive advance appropriations for the year through the IIJA, and eliminates $100 million for the DOT’s Thriving Communities program, which funds infrastructure improvements in disadvantaged communities.

Overall, the bill provides the DOT with $21.6 billion in discretionary funds, a $7.2 billion cut from fiscal 2023 enacted levels, according to a House appropriations summary.

The bill would also trim funding for Federal Transit Administration and Federal Railroad Administration by $2 billion each, and cut Amtrak funding by $1.6 billion.

Funding levels for transit Capital Investment Grants would be sliced by 82%, coming in $1.1 billion below the fiscal 2023 enacted level and $2.4 billion below the Biden’s 2024 request. The remaining $392 million for CIG levels would be “the lowest level in decades,” the summary said.

On the earmark side, the bill includes $130.8 million for 127 transit infrastructure projects requested by 97 members.

Like previous Republican bills, the measure would prohibit any money to be spent on the “failed” California High Speed Rail project.

On the rail side, the Federal-state Partnership for Intercity Rail program would not see any funds, and the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement program would be cut in half.

The bill halts implementation of the controversial Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rule, which would require state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations to establish declining carbon dioxide targets and a method for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation.