On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti Following the money on the Biden-era infrastructure bill
Jan 13, 2026
In this discussion, Adi Tomer, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution focusing on infrastructure, sheds light on the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. He reveals that $600 billion in federal awards have been allocated, but highlights the frustratingly slow pace of project delivery due to complex permitting and costs. Notably, he discusses the $3.6 billion Brent Spence Bridge as a sign of bipartisan success. Tomer also critiques the delayed broadband rollout and compares the U.S. construction pace with China, highlighting the challenges and potential of public-private partnerships.
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Awards ≠ Completed Projects
- About $600 billion of the IIJA was awarded by the end of the Biden administration but much of it still awaited state and local action to start construction.
- Tracking awards is possible, but translating awards into finished projects can take many more years and is hard to quantify.
Scale Makes Progress Slow To Show
- The U.S. has about $14 trillion in infrastructure assets, so a one-trillion-dollar bill is significant but not transformative by itself.
- Major infrastructure outcomes often only become clear after a decade, not just five years.
Brent Spence Bridge As Bipartisan Example
- The Brent Spence Bridge rebuild received $1.6 billion of federal funding toward a $3.6 billion project after a fiery crash highlighted its need.
- The project became a bipartisan symbol with leaders from Ohio, Kentucky, and Washington supporting reconstruction.