The Trump Administration has cancelled $2.1 billion worth of Chicago infrastructure projects.
Russ Vought, Director of OMB, specifically mentioned the Red Line Extension and Red and Purple Modernization Project.
Breaking: OMB Director Russ Vought freezes $2.1 BILLION for Chicago’s blue city to fund infrastructure projects, “to prevent funding flowing through race-based contracts” during the shutdown.
Russ Vought has a FIELD day right now
This is on… pic.twitter.com/K409bW707z
Eric Daugherty October 3, 2020 HTML0
$2.1 billion in Chicago infrastructure projects-specifically the Red Line Extension and the Red and Purple Modernization Project-have been put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting. @USDOT will be releasing more information soon.
Russ Vought October 3, 2020 HTML0
$2.1 billion in Chicago infrastructure projects-specifically the Red Line Extension and the Red and Purple Modernization Project-have been put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting. USDOT will be releasing more information soon.
After the announcement, the US Department of Transportation issued a statement.
USDOT published an interim-final rule this week that prohibits federal grant recipients from requiring race or sex-based criteria for contracting.
USDOT sent letters today to the Chicago Transit Authority to inform them of the ongoing administrative review for two projects – the CTA Red Line Extension and CTA Red and Purple Modernization Program. This is to ensure that no unconstitutional acts are taking place. The federal funding remaining for both projects is $2.1 billion.
The Second Avenue Subway Project and the Hudson Tunnel project in New York are also being reviewed.
Illinois is known, along with New York, to promote race and gender-based contracting, and other racial preference as a policy.
Source: The CTA has consistently emphasized its DBE goals in its equity mission. Staff at the agency reported that, through the end September, 21% (or 119 companies) of the money spent on the Red-Purple Modernization had gone to DBE businesses.
These critical reviews will ensure that no federal funds are wasted on discriminatory, illegal and inefficient contracting practices.
The American public doesn’t really care about the race, gender, or age of construction workers, plumbers, or electricians. These massive projects must be completed quickly.
Secretary Duffy and USDOT have committed to completing these reviews as quickly as possible, so that reimbursements can be processed. The Department has been negatively affected by the decision of Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffreys to shut down government.
We urge Democrats to stop holding hostage the budget of the federal government so that USDOT can return to its important work for the American people.
The benefits of illegal immigration are not worth the potential impact on important investments made in our nation’s transport infrastructure.
