In this episode of "The Continuing Demise of DEI"...
True to form — and I mean that in the most positive way possible — the Trump administration has frozen roughly $18 billion in federal (U.S. taxpayer) funding for two major New York City infrastructure projects, to prevent money from being allocated under what it calls “unconstitutional DEI principles,” a senior official said on Wednesday.
The suspended funds were designated for the Hudson River Tunnel Project and the Second Avenue Subway, according to Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought.
Vought announced the freeze in two posts on X Monday morning:
Roughly $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects have been put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing based on unconstitutional DEI principles. More info to come soon from @USDOT.
Specifically, the Hudson Tunnel Project and the Second Ave Subway.
Bravo — at least until both of these projects are investigated with respect to DEI hiring practices.
While it wasn't immediately clear what triggered the freeze with respect to DEI, the Department of Transportation later said Secretary Sean Duffy’s “position on the DBE program is clear – subsidizing infrastructure contracts with taxpayer dollars based on discriminatory principles is unconstitutional, counter to civil rights laws, and a waste of taxpayer resources.”
The Transportation Department then announced it had issued an interim final rule (IFR) prohibiting race- and sex-based contracting requirements in federal grants. It also confirmed sending letters to New York, notifying officials that the 2nd Avenue Subway and Hudson Tunnel projects are now under administrative review to assess potential constitutional violations.
The agency also said it's focusing on the two projects because they are among the "largest infrastructure undertakings in the Western Hemisphere," and the public expects them to be completed quickly and efficiently. However, until the review is finished, federal reimbursements will continue to be on hold.
Again, bravo.
ALSO CHECK OUT: Trump Admin Announcing New Hiring Rules: Merit Only
I could be wrong, of course, but the timing of Vought's announcement came within hours of the government officially shutting down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, suggesting a well-deserved shot from President Trump across the bow of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and his TDS-riddled Democrat comrades.
While the DOJ said the freeze of funds was not due to the shutdown, it also said:
Thanks to the Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jefferies shutdown, however, USDOT’s review of New York’s unconstitutional practices will take more time. Without a budget, the Department has been forced to furlough the civil rights staff responsible for conducting this review. This is another unfortunate casualty of radical Democrats’ reckless decision to hold the federal government hostage to give illegal immigrants benefits.
Whether or not the freezing of funds was a tit-for-tat against Schumer and his hellbent desire to shut down the government, wrongly believing that a majority of Americans would support Democrat lawmakers on the issue, the administration's freeze was definitely well played.
Why, it was as if Donald Trump's fingerprints were all over it. If so, well done, Mr. President.
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