Pete Buttigieg is scheduled to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday. Secretary of Transportation He will no doubt tout his tenure as a great success. Discuss The Biden administration has “laid the groundwork for a decade of infrastructure development,” he said during an earlier visit to Michigan.
But to an objective listener, his statements will ring hollow.
Buttigieg's tenure has been questionable at best, and transportation blunders have become commonplace during his term.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed earlier this year. Several people diedFederal Aviation Systems Collapse in 2023temporarily halted all air service across the country. And Amtrak passengers experienced major delays this summer. Along the Northeast Corridor As taxpayer-funded rail systems crumble, Buttigieg member Amtrak's board of directors?
Meanwhile, frequent railway accidents across the country have called into question the safety of railways.
Perhaps the most publicized incident occurred in East Palestine, Ohio. Trains carrying toxic chemicals It went off the tracks last year, forcing nearby residents to evacuate. A newly uncovered report found that the contamination was so severe that workers trying to clean up a nearby stream came crashing down on it. Experienced Headache and nausea.
Pete Buttigieg at the “White Dudes for Harris” Zoom event (Screenshot / “White Dudes for Harris” Zoom event)
Unfortunately, these types of incidents seem to be getting worse rather than better these days: According to the federal government, there are an average of three train accidents every year. Number of derailments per day 2023. And Hearings at the Capitol In late July, the head of the Federal Railroad Administration attention“Safety performance has stagnated over the past decade and, by some indicators, is worsening.”
Under Buttigieg's leadership, little has been done to change course: the nation's roads, bridges and railways are deteriorating. (RELATED: Fox News host directly asks Biden Cabinet secretary when he knew the president was “unfit” for duty)
Policymakers passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package for 2021, but the Department of Transportation has struggled to translate that money into completed projects that benefit American taxpayers. Nearly three years later, less than half of the funds have been spent. Announced Reports say few major construction projects have started.
Although the green revolution is a pillar of Biden's policy, one particularly glaring failure has been with electric vehicle infrastructure. The infrastructure bill includes $7.5 billion to build 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations by 2030. few More than 20 have been built.
Buttigieg and the Transportation Department also helped exacerbate the high inflation that has plagued the economy for much of President Joe Biden's term. 25 months Shipping delays off the coast of California caused shortages of goods. range This has been a driving force behind higher prices for everything from bicycles to home appliances.
While the Department of Transport did not cause the traffic jams in the Pacific, it is within its purview to keep the nation's supply chains running smoothly. (RELATED: Buttigieg rushes to bridge collapse after missing other disasters)
Buttigieg's speech in Chicago is sure to be met with rapturous congratulations given his politically receptive audience, but while there's no doubt he's a skilled speaker, his actions, or lack thereof, as Secretary of Transportation will speak louder than words.
Jackson Schedelbauer is executive director of the Transportation Policy Center.
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