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Federal policy on infrastructure, 2017-2018
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On February 12, 2018, the White House released an infrastructure plan outlining President Donald Trump's key infrastructure principles and a proposed funding breakdown for consideration by Congress. The plan proposed $1.5 trillion in spending on infrastructure over the next 10 years, $1.3 trillion of which would come from state and local governments and the private sector. The plan proposed $200 billion in federal funds toward infrastructure.[1]
Trump cited infrastructure investment as one of his main initiatives in the beginning of his presidency. In an address to Congress on February 28, 2017, he stated that he planned to ask Congress to approve legislation for a $1 trillion infrastructure plan.[2]
This page tracked major events and policy positions of the Trump administration and the 115th United States Congress on infrastructure from 2017 and 2018. This page was updated through 2018. Think something is missing? Please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Major events and policy announcements on infrastructure:
- February 12, 2018: White House releases infrastructure plan
- August 15, 2017: Trump signs executive order removing permitting and review processes for infrastructure projects
- May 30, 2017: Trump administration releases outline of infrastructure plan
- February 28, 2017: Trump calls for a $1 trillion investment in infrastructure
- January 24, 2017: Trump signs memorandum to expedite final approval of the Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL)
- January 24, 2017: Trump signs memorandum inviting TransCanada to resubmit application for Keystone XL pipeline project
- January 24, 2017: Trump signs memorandum requiring pipelines to be constructed with materials made in the U.S.A.
- January 24, 2017: Trump signs executive order to expedite environmental reviews for high-priority infrastructure projects
February 12, 2018: White House releases infrastructure plan
On February 12, 2018, the White House released the Trump administration's infrastructure plan for consideration by Congress. The plan contained $1.5 trillion in planned spending over 10 years—half a trillion more than the $1 trillion planned in Trump's infrastructure proposal outline from May 30, 2017 (see more below). Like the outline, the February plan proposed $200 billion in federal funds toward infrastructure. The plan proposed that $100 billion, or half, of the federal funds go toward an incentives program that the administration estimated would spur $1.3 trillion in investments from local and state governments and the private sector. It proposed that a quarter of the federal funds—$50 billion—go toward a rural infrastructure program and that the remaining $50 billion be divided between several areas, including the expansion of credit programs and the creation of an aid program for innovation.[1]
The administration provided the following summary of the infrastructure plan's six principles and proposed funding breakdown. Access the full plan here.
| “ |
STIMULATE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT: President Trump’s plan will lead to at least $1.5 trillion in investments to rebuild our failing infrastructure and develop innovative projects.
INVEST IN RURAL AMERICA: Rural America’s infrastructure has been left behind for too long, and President Trump’s plan will make sure it is supported and modernized.
INCREASE STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITY: President Trump’s proposal will return decision-making authority to State and local governments, which know the needs of their communities
ELIMINATE REGULATORY BARRIERS: The President’s plan would eliminate barriers that prevent virtually all infrastructure projects from being efficiently developed and managed.
STREAMLINE PERMITTING: President Trump’s infrastructure proposal will shorten and simplify the approval process for infrastructure projects
INVEST IN OUR COUNTRY’S MOST IMPORTANT ASSET – ITS PEOPLE: The President is proposing reforms so Americans secure good-paying jobs and meet the needs of our industries.
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” |
Trump wrote of the infrastructure plan, "My Administration’s plan addresses more than traditional infrastructure -- like roads, bridges, and airports -- but addresses other needs like drinking and wastewater systems, waterways, water resources, energy, rural infrastructure, public lands, veterans’ hospitals, and Brownfield and Superfund sites. The reforms set forth in my plan will strengthen the economy, make our country more competitive, reduce the costs of goods and services for American families, and enable Americans to build their lives on top of the best infrastructure in the world."[4]
The Democratic National Committee responded to the plan with the following statement: "Trump’s plan is just another giveaway to corporations and wealthy developers at the expense of American workers, and it fails to address some of the most pressing infrastructure needs our country faces."[5] House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the plan "a puny infrastructure scam that fully fails to meet the need in America’s communities."[6]
According to Reason, the February 2018 plan "died on the vine as Congress became preoccupied with other issues and Trump failed to advocate for it."[7]
August 15, 2017: Trump signs executive order removing permitting and review processes for infrastructure projects
On August 15, 2017, Trump signed an executive order removing certain permitting regulations relating to infrastructure development. The order rolled back standards created by the Obama administration that required the federal government to account for climate change and rising sea levels when building infrastructure. The order called for the creation of one leading federal agency that would work with other relevant agencies to complete environmental and other reviews necessary for permits. This agency was required to make these decisions within 90 days, and related agencies were given a two-year goal for completing their reviews.[8][9]
November 7, 2017: Following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, a video by media company ATTN: claimed, "Regulations for flood-proof buildings [in the U.S.] have actually been cut."
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Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao issued the following statement on the order:
| “ | The average environmental review takes nearly five years, and infrastructure projects can be subject to at least 65 different requirements and permits. This new Executive Order will slash the time it takes to get vital new infrastructure projects approved and delivered. At the Department of Transportation, we are already putting the Administration’s principles into action. We’ve identified more than two dozen policies and rules that will streamline project delivery and environmental permitting. We also launched our INFRA grant program to reflect the priorities outlined in the President’s infrastructure initiative, such as incorporating more funding from state, local and private partners, encouraging the use of innovative permitting authorities and bringing greater accountability into the process. Together, our goal is to ensure greater impact for every dollar spent, faster project delivery, better performance and a balanced approach that reaches the entire country, urban and rural alike.[3] | ” |
| —Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao[10] | ||
May 30, 2017: Trump administration releases outline of infrastructure plan
On May 30, 2017, an outline of Trump's infrastructure plan was released as part of the proposed federal budget. It contained about $1 trillion in planned spending, along with $1.4 billion in cuts to transportation spending. The plan proposed $200 billion in direct spending by the federal government and $800 billion in incentives for city and state governments and private companies. Specific proposals in the plan included allowing states to tax federally funded highways and corporatizing air traffic control. The administration said that the final infrastructure package would include repairs for roads, bridges, and water systems and expansion of internet access.[11]
The administration released four key principles for improving infrastructure. They appear below.
| “ | 1. Make Targeted Federal Investments. Focusing Federal dollars on the most transformative projects and processes stretches the use and benefit of taxpayer funds. When Federal funds are provided, they should be awarded to projects that address problems that are a high priority from the perspective of a region or the Nation, or projects that lead to longterm changes in how infrastructure is designed, built, and maintained.
2. Encourage Self-Help. Many States, tribes, and localities have stopped waiting for Washington to come to the rescue and have raised their own dedicated revenues for infrastructure. Localities are better equipped to understand the right level – and type – of infrastructure investments needed for their communities, and the Federal Government should support more communities moving toward a model of independence. 3. Align Infrastructure Investment with Entities Best Suited to Provide Sustained and Efficient Investment. The Federal Government provides services that non-Federal entities, including the private sector, could deliver more efficiently. The Administration will look for opportunities to appropriately divest from certain functions, which will provide better services for citizens, and potentially generate budgetary savings. The Federal Government can also be more efficient about disposing underused capital assets, ensuring those assets are put to their highest and best use. 4. Leverage the Private Sector. The private sector can provide valuable benefits for the delivery of infrastructure, through better procurement methods, market discipline, and a long-term focus on maintaining assets. While public-private partnerships will not be the solution to all infrastructure needs, they can help advance the Nation’s most important, regionally significant projects.[3] |
” |
February 28, 2017: Trump calls for a $1 trillion investment in infrastructure
The First 100 Days
In the first 100 days of the Trump administration, infrastructure policy was changed through the following executive and legislative actions:
- President Trump announced that his administration's infrastructure plan was nearing finalization.
- President Trump issued multiple executive orders and memorandums regarding the construction of pipelines and expediting environmental reviews for some infrastructure projects.
On February 28, 2017, in his address to Congress, President Donald Trump said, "Another Republican President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, initiated the last truly great national infrastructure program – the building of the interstate highway system. The time has come for a new program of national rebuilding. America has spent approximately six trillion dollars in the Middle East, all this while our infrastructure at home is crumbling. With this six trillion dollars we could have rebuilt our country – twice. And maybe even three times if we had people who had the ability to negotiate. To launch our national rebuilding, I will be asking the Congress to approve legislation that produces a $1 trillion investment in the infrastructure of the United States – financed through both public and private capital – creating millions of new jobs."[2]
January 24, 2017: Trump signs memorandum to expedite final approval of the Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL)
- See also: Federal policy on energy, 2017-2018
On January 24, 2017, President Trump signed a memorandum to expedite final approval of the Dakota Access pipeline. The Dakota Access pipeline is a 1,172-mile pipeline that would carry approximately 470,000 barrels of crude oil a day from North Dakota to Illinois. The action did not officially approve the project, which required a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allowing the pipeline to be built under Lake Oahe in North Dakota. In a memorandum to the secretary of the Army regarding the Dakota Access pipeline, Trump stated that the pipeline was more than 90 percent complete and that the "construction and operation of lawfully permitted pipeline infrastructure serve the national interest."[12][13][14][15][16]
According to NBC News, supporters of the pipeline said that the move would create jobs, while opponents said that the move would harm the environment and damage cultural sites.[17]
For updates on the status of the Dakota Access pipeline, click here.
January 24, 2017: Trump signs memorandum inviting TransCanada to resubmit application for Keystone XL pipeline project
- See also: Keystone XL Pipeline
On January 24, 2017, President Trump signed a memorandum inviting TransCanada, the corporation heading the Keystone XL pipeline project, “to promptly re-submit its application to the Department of State for a Presidential permit for the construction and operation of the Keystone XL Pipeline.” In addition, the executive memorandum ordered the secretaries of state, the Army, and the interior to review permits in an expedited manner.[18]
The Keystone XL pipeline would transport crude oil extracted from tar sands in Alberta, Canada, and shale oil from North Dakota and Montana to Nebraska. The Keystone XL pipeline would then connect to existing pipelines and transport oil to refineries along the Gulf Coast. The pipeline would span 875 miles. TransCanada, a Canadian-based company, oversaw the project.[19]
According to NBC News, supporters of the pipeline said that the move would create jobs, while opponents said that the move would harm the environment.[17]
March 24, 2017: State Department issues presidential permit approving the Keystone XL pipeline
On March 24, 2017, the U.S. State Department issued its presidential permit approving the Keystone XL pipeline, two days before the 60-day timeline established by President Trump in January. The pipeline required State Department approval before it could cross the U.S-Canadian border.[20][21]
For updates on the Keystone XL pipeline, click here.
January 24, 2017: Trump signs memorandum requiring pipelines to be constructed with materials made in the U.S.A.
On January 24, 2017, President Trump signed a memorandum stating that pipelines were to be constructed with products made in the United States. The memo read, in part, “The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with all relevant executive departments and agencies, shall develop a plan under which all new pipelines, as well as retrofitted, repaired, or expanded pipelines, inside the borders of the United States, including portions of pipelines, use materials and equipment produced in the United States, to the maximum extent possible and to the extent permitted by law.”[22]
January 24, 2017: Trump signs executive order to expedite environmental reviews for high-priority infrastructure projects
On January 24, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order to expedite environmental reviews for high-priority infrastructure projects. The order read, in part, "It is the policy of the executive branch to streamline and expedite, in a manner consistent with law, environmental reviews and approvals for all infrastructure projects, especially projects that are a high priority for the Nation, such as improving the U.S. electric grid and telecommunications systems and repairing and upgrading critical port facilities, airports, pipelines, bridges, and highways."[23]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The White House, "Building a Stronger America: President Donald J. Trump’s American Infrastructure Initiative," February 12, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 CNN.com, "Donald Trump's Congress speech (full text)," March 1, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The White House, "Legislative Outline for Rebuilding Infrastructure in America," February 12, 2018
- ↑ Reuters, "Trump unveils plan to stimulate infrastructure improvements," February 12, 2018
- ↑ NBC News, "Trump rolls out infrastructure plan hinged on state, private dollars," February 12, 2018
- ↑ Reason, "Trump's $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan Is Back," March 12, 2019
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Presidential Executive Order on Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure," August 15, 2017
- ↑ New York Times, "Trump Signs Order Rolling Back Environmental Rules on Infrastructure," August 15, 2017
- ↑ Transportation.gov, "Secretary Chao Joins President Trump At Signing Of New Executive Order That Will Reform Infrastructure Permitting Process," August 15, 2017
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 The White House, "2018 Budget Fact Sheet: Infrastructure Initiative," accessed June 1, 2017
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, “Presidential Memorandum Regarding Construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline," January 24, 2017
- ↑ The Hill, "Overnight Energy: Trump puts Keystone, Dakota Access pipelines on the fast track," January 24, 2017
- ↑ CNN, "5 things to know about the Dakota Access Pipeline," August 31, 2016
- ↑ United States District Court for the District of Columbia, "Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, et al., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, et al., Civil Action No. 16-1534 (JEB)," September 9, 2016
- ↑ United States District Court for the District of Columbia, "Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, et al., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, et al., Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief," July 27, 2016
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 NBC News, "Trump Signs Orders Advancing Keystone, Dakota Access Pipelines," January 25, 2017
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Presidential Memorandum Regarding Construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline," January 24, 2017
- ↑ Congressional Research Service, "Keystone XL Pipeline: Overview and Recent Developments," January 5, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "State Department to approve Keystone pipeline permit," March 23, 2017
- ↑ Bloomberg, "Keystone Pipeline Gets Trump Approval as New Roadblocks Loom," March 24, 2017
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Presidential Memorandum Regarding Construction of American Pipelines," January 24, 2017
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Executive Order Expediting Environmental Reviews and Approvals For High Priority Infrastructure Projects," January 24, 2017
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