The War on Cars

What's Happening with Federal Transportation Dollars?

Feb 25, 2025

Beth Osborne, executive director of Transportation for America and former official at the U.S. Department of Transportation, shares insights on the chaotic state of federal transportation funding amid the recent government upheavals. She discusses the troubling impacts of funding freezes on public transit, biking, and EV infrastructure. Osborne highlights the critical need for equitable funding in rural areas and critiques current transportation policy shifts. She emphasizes grassroots advocacy as essential for defending vital projects in our communities.

57:41

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Episode guests

Beth Osborne

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The Trump administration's focus on 'efficiency' has led to the freezing and potential loss of transportation funding for crucial projects.

The discussion highlights the importance of grassroots advocacy in influencing transportation policy and ensuring community needs are prioritized.

Deep dives

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Intro

2min

Turmoil in Transportation Funding

17min

Reevaluating Public Transit in Rural America

2min

Examining Transportation Policy Shifts

10min

Challenges in the Transition to Electric Vehicles

4min

Rethinking Transportation Messaging

19min

Conclusion and Resources for Transportation Advocacy

3min

The Trump administration has upended the entire United States government over the last several weeks, sending Elon Musk and his minions into the guts of pretty much every federal department in a crusade for what they’re calling “efficiency.” Funds that were legally appropriated by Congress have been frozen, and in some cases even clawed back. The battle to preserve all sorts of spending is now in the courts.

What does this all mean for federal funding of public transit, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and the transition to EVs? And what is DOT Secretary Sean Duffy’s “Woke Rescission Memo”? We talked with Beth Osborne, executive director of the advocacy organization Transportation for America, to help us understand what’s at stake and how we can help defend projects we care about in our own communities. (Spoiler alert: It won’t be easy!)

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LINKS:

Transportation for America has some great resources to help you understand the federal funding picture in more detail.

Some terms Beth mentions in the interview that might be unfamiliar:

ISTEA (pronounced ICE-T) is an acronym referring to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, which fundamentally restructured the way federal transportation funds are disbursed. You can read more about it here. (Brookings)
Justice40 refers to a Biden-era policy initiative aiming to direct 40 percent of federal investments in areas like climate, clean energy, and affordable housing to disadvantaged, disinvested communities that suffer disproportionately from pollution.

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This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. It was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Transcriptions are by Russell Gragg.

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