WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is withholding $330 million in previously approved federal grant awards for about 30 Maryland transportation projects, according to the state Transportation Department, which is urgently asking the administration to reconsider.
Among the projects placed in limbo are key elements of Gov. Wes Moore’s signature program to promote the use of electric vehicles.
About 10 days ago, according to state officials, the Federal Highway Administration rescinded electric vehicle infrastructure master plans for Maryland and other states.
Among the EV funds on hold, about $50 million was awarded as part of Maryland’s effort to place charging stations along highways.
The state plans to put an EV charging station with at least four fast-charging ports every 50 miles along highway corridors.
In the cases cited by the Maryland Department of Transportation, a federal grant has been awarded, but funding has not yet been made.
The delayed or frozen grants “are for one reason. It’s to pay for tax cuts for billionaires,” U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, a Maryland Democrat, said Thursday in an interview.
“These projects are not partisan,” Alsobrooks said. “We have red parts of our state too. It’s done in a very arbitrary way. They’re hurting the people who voted for them too.”
Federal tax credits for EV purchasers, which were approved as part of the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, are also at risk in the Republican-controlled Congress.
Trump, a Republican, and his GOP supporters have opposed Democratic former President Joe Biden’s programs supporting EV expansion.
In January, incoming U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote a memo eliminating directives of the previous administration regarding climate change mitigation, diversity, equity and inclusion, and other Biden administration priorities.
Among Maryland’s federally funded programs is a multiyear project worth $147 million to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the Port of Baltimore. State officials have said the project has a signed grant agreement. But there are concerns within the state that the Trump administration could try to undo the deal, which Biden announced during an Oct. 29 visit to the Dundalk Marine Terminal.
State officials were reluctant to identify projects that could be at risk because they feared calling attention to them.
The state Transportation Department said in a general statement Thursday: “We encourage the U.S. Department of Transportation to expeditiously advance these announced awards through the funding obligation process to ensure Maryland receives its competitively earned funding.”
Alsobrooks raised the issue on Wednesday during a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing when she questioned Russel McMurry, vice president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
“Mr. McMurry, in your experience, is it normal for the Federal Highway Administration to abruptly hold a bridge project in the middle of construction just because there was a change in administration?” Alsobrooks asked.
“It has not been my experience that that’s happened,” McMurry said.
“What about a resurfacing project?” she asked.
“The same,” McMurry replied.
Sam Janesch contributed to this story. Have a news tip? Contact Jeff Barker at [email protected].
