The Department of Transportation has issued a new rule saying that projects funded or supported by the agency should focus on communities with higher-than-average marriage and birth rates.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the policy in a memo on Wednesday, but instead of mentioning population growth, he said the goal was economic growth. He also repeated former President Donald Trump’s criticism of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. “The American people deserve a transportation system that is efficient, safe, and focused on economic growth, not politics,” Duffy said.
The memo was released just hours before a military helicopter crashed into a passenger plane near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, killing everyone on board and causing a rush of activity among transportation officials.
According to the memo, projects funded by the Department of Transportation should prioritize helping “families with young children” and favor communities where marriage and birth rates are higher than the national average. This rule applies to all department grants, loans, and contracts, including ongoing agreements.
A spokesperson for the Transportation Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2022 shows that states like Utah and South Dakota have marriage and birth rates above the national average. In these mostly white states, cultural and religious beliefs may play a role in encouraging marriage and family life.
The memo also bans recipients of transportation funding from enforcing “mask mandates,” referring to the COVID-19 safety rules that transit agencies followed during the pandemic.
Additionally, the new rule requires funding recipients to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. This is part of a broader government effort to crack down on undocumented immigrants by increasing arrests and deportations and denying federal transportation funds to “sanctuary cities.”
