U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy redirects $1.73 bn bike‑lane grants to roads and bridges

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Department of Transportation will reallocate $1.73 billion of Biden‑era infrastructure grants originally earmarked for “DEI bike lanes” toward road and bridge repairs. The redirected funds had been intended for projects ranging from a new transit center in North Carolina to bridge replacements in New Mexico, street extensions in New Hampshire, traffic‑signal installations in Missouri and bike‑lane installations in Seattle.

Duffy framed the move as a focus on “critical roads and bridges that connect Americans to job opportunities, port infrastructure that bolsters our national security, and aviation and transit projects that move American families,” adding, “America is fortunate to have a Builder in the White House who knows America is only as great as our infrastructure.” The policy shift has drawn criticism for targeting programs that incorporate equity and climate‑change considerations.

The decision affects numerous local and state projects that had received federal funding under the 2021 grant program, potentially delaying or canceling bike‑lane installations while increasing resources for highway and bridge work across the United States.