Washington’s infrastructure machine is finally grinding forward. The Trump administration, with Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy at the helm, is tackling a massive backlog of 3,200 infrastructure grants left languishing by the Biden team. Duffy’s mission: strip out the woke red tape and get America building again.

According to Breitbart News, the DOT is reviewing grants, some stalled since 2021, to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates, Green New Deal policies, and social justice requirements. Duffy has already approved 1,065 grants worth $10 billion since January 2025, including a recent batch of 529 grants valued at nearly $3 billion. 

Streetsblog USA sniped that Duffy is “delaying DOT projects — as he delays DOT projects.” Cute, but wrong. The DOT’s recent approvals, like $21 million for Michigan rail safety and $110 million for a North Carolina bridge, show progress, not procrastination.

Clearing Out the Bureaucratic Clutter

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz..., grumbled about “significant disruption” to infrastructure efforts. Disruption? Try liberation, as Duffy’s team axes burdensome requirements like social cost of carbon accounting and greenhouse gas reporting that bloated costs and timelines.

A DOT official noted they “ripped out burdensome DEI, Green New Scam, and social justice requirements.” These mandates, never authorized by Congress, drove up road construction costs by 70% under Biden. Actions, it seems, have pricey consequences.

The Biden-era rubric demanded racial equity analyses and inclusion programs from grant recipients. Duffy’s DOT ditched these, focusing instead on core infrastructure needs. The result is a streamlined process that prioritizes bridges over bureaucracy.

Grants Moving at Record Pace

Since January 2025, Duffy’s approvals include $47 million for the Port of Baltimore and nearly $12 million for Florida’s Manatee County Port Authority. These projects, announced years ago, were stuck in Biden’s backlog. Now, they’re finally funded.

The latest round of 529 grants spans multiple programs, from $369 million for 32 highway safety projects to $372 million for three rail vehicle replacements. Rural communities also scored $195 million for ferry services. That’s not delay — that’s delivery.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., sneered that Duffy’s team is hunting for “MAGA heresies and hobgoblins” in the grants. Hardly. They’re cutting red tape that added months to permitting and inflated costs, as a DOT official confirmed.

Refocusing on America’s Infrastructure

“The greenhouse gas reporting burden alone increased project costs and added months to the permitting process,” a DOT official said. By removing these, Duffy’s team is saving taxpayer dollars and speeding up construction. Efficiency isn’t a conspiracy — it’s common sense.

Duffy himself clapped back at critics: “While cynics in the press hysterically warned of doomsday delays, USDOT has been hard at work to get America building again.” He’s right. A third of the backlog is already cleared, with more to come.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s $124 million for 23 airport improvement projects and the Federal Transit Administration’s $187 million for low-emission buses show Duffy’s broad reach. These approvals aren’t just numbers — they’re jobs, safety, and growth. Critics might want to check the scoreboard.

A Future Free of Red Tape

“We’ve done this by refocusing the department on core infrastructure — not enacting a radical political agenda,” Duffy said. His approach contrasts sharply with Biden’s, which prioritized progressive checklists over practical outcomes. The difference is palpable.

With $499 million for eight INFRA grant projects and $69 million for 255 Safe Streets initiatives, the DOT is funding what matters. These grants, once tangled in DEI and environmental red tape, are now unshackled. America’s roads and rails will thank Duffy.

Duffy’s promise is clear: “With a third of the last administration’s unprecedented backlog cleared, we will continue to rip out red tape roadblocks to get dirt moving.” That’s a pledge conservatives can cheer — and taxpayers can trust. The DOT is back in the business of building, not preaching.