Trump admin halts $2.1B for Chicago public transit projects
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A south-bound Red Line CTA train. Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Friday it's halting billions in federal funding for Chicago, including a project to bring more accessible public transit to predominantly Black neighborhoods.
Why it matters: In a statement, the department blamed the decision on the ongoing government shutdown — and congressional Democrats they say are responsible for it.
Driving the news: Now on hold is $2.1 billion for the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) Red Line Extension. The project would extend the city's train line 5.5 miles to 130th Street, creating four more train stations for residents on the South Side.
- DOT's decision also affects the CTA Red and Purple Modernization Program, a plan to create faster service and build modern, ADA-compliant stations on the city's North Side.
- DOT informed the CTA both projects are under administrative review "to ensure no additional federal dollars go towards discriminatory, illegal, and wasteful contracting practices."
- "Without a budget, the Department has been forced to furlough the civil rights staff responsible for conducting this review," a DOT spokesperson said in a statement, which went on to blame "radical Democrats" for the shutdown.
The fine print: The review comes after USDOT issued an interim final rule (IFR) barring race- and sex-based contracting requirements from federal grants based on a program that's meant to ensure minority-owned businesses are considered for capital projects.
Context: CTA has long touted their committed to The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, or DBE, program that is meant to "level the playing field for businesses seeking to participate in federally assisted contracts and in airport concessions."
State of play: Advocates and public officials have been fighting for decades to extend the Red Line.
- Former President Biden's admin announced in January it was awarding $1.97 billion to support the effort.
Zoom out: Earlier this week, The Trump admin froze roughly $18 billion affecting two major New York infrastructure projects.
- The DOT cited similar rationale for the decision, casting blame on Democrats and the government shutdown.
Go deeper: Trump, Vought to decide which "Democrat Agencies" to cut during shutdown "opportunity"
