Senator Joni Ernst Pushes for Funding Cuts on Troubled Projects
Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, reached out to Transportation Secretary Shawn Duffy on Tuesday, urging him to eliminate federal funding for seven projects outlined in a report she released on July 30. This report indicates significant delays and cost overruns associated with these initiatives.
After Duffy admitted potential setbacks in his five-year plan, Ernst commended him for being a proactive partner in uncovering wasteful expenditures. She remarked, “My Off the Rails report shows that mismanaged trains and bridges aren’t benefiting taxpayers at all. People shouldn’t have to keep financing these failed projects, which have already spiraled into late schedules and a billion-dollar deficit. I’ve pinpointed $14 billion in unspent funds. Duffy has been great in our efforts to curb waste, and I intend to continue collaborating with him to recover the unfinished funds.”
Among the projects highlighted, the Honolulu Rail Transport Program has seen a staggering $4.8 billion cost overrun since its inception in 2012, pushing its expected completion from 2020 to 2031. The Washington Metro Purple Line, another example on her list, is also behind schedule, with a budget of $3.1 billion and a completion date now projected beyond February 2028.
Ernst also named two California projects that are facing financial challenges. The high-speed rail initiative, which is under federal oversight due to cost issues, received $4 billion. An extension to Silicon Valley’s subway system is projected to secure over $5 billion in federal funding, while a transit hub in San Francisco is slated for $3.3 billion.
In her correspondence with Duffy, Ernst referred to criteria from Section 11319 of the Infrastructure Investment and Employment Law, a measure President Biden signed into effect in November 2021. She suggested a review of additional projects that might also fall under her proposed “Boondoggle Act,” noting that four of these had already received $4.5 billion from the Department of Transportation.
Ernst expressed concern that if oversight didn’t improve, more cancellations might be necessary. “The $14 billion saved could be redirected to higher-priority transportation needs or used to help mitigate the national debt, currently at $37 trillion,” she added.
She also called for further transparency regarding projects that exceed budgets or fall behind schedule, saying, “My law mandates an annual BOONDOGGLE report. Future updates with detailed analysis will be invaluable for taxpayers and policymakers alike. While the report on California’s high-speed rail spanned over 300 pages, I’ve condensed the critical information on 14 projects into a straightforward one-page chart. This provides a clear view of the key factors driving costs and delays.”
