House Republicans are looking to slash the Biden administration's proposal to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives as well as "green new deal"-style goals in the Department of Transportation.
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies last week approved a proposal to cut both DOT and the Department of Housing and Urban Development a total of $8.6 billion below President Joe Biden's requested budget for fiscal 2024.
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Republicans say the cuts will block the Biden administration from expanding the federal bureaucracy by 2,300 employees at the two agencies.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's fiscal 2024 budget proposal would be hit hardest by the cuts, which would mean $7.5 billion less than the $108.5 billion in funding sought by the department and just under $7.2 billion less than last year's enacted level.
Top line cuts for committee Republicans are DEI and green initiatives sought by the Biden administration, including fully cutting the DOT "Thriving Communities" program, which the department says "provides technical assistance and capacity building to help disadvantaged communities advance transformative, equitable, and climate-friendly infrastructure projects."
Thriving Communities is part of DOT's DEI "Justice40" initiative, through which at least 40% of all grant, program, and initiative benefits would go to "disadvantaged communities."
The Republican proposal also "prohibits DOT from imposing burdensome grant requirements on state and local applicants in the name of 'equity,'" which can include requiring information, criteria, or submissions in accordance with DOT's "Equity Action Plan." It similarly blocks any funds being spent on critical race theory training for government employees and contractors.
Republicans are also rejecting the Biden administration's $26 million ask to make the DOT's federal fleet electric, while not putting any funds toward California's high-speed rail project.
The proposal also cuts $876 million from Amtrak, which would fund the agency below the enacted level in 2003.
"I’m disappointed that the Republican 2024 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development bill fails to meet the needs of Americans.” subcommittee ranking member Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) said in a statement when the bill advanced to the full committee. “At a time when too many people in America don’t have a place to call home or lack access to affordable transportation options, the FY24 THUD bill slashes funding for new affordable housing for most areas of the country and commuter and passenger rail."
HUD is proposed to receive an $8 billion budget increase from last year, but it is still about $2.4 billion below Biden's 2024 asking price. Republicans say the increase is to respond to falling receipts from government-sponsored enterprises that have been hurt by the cooling housing market, "unravel the emergency spending Democrats used to pay for FY23 housing inflation," and ensure those eligible for housing assistance do not lose it due to inflation.
Republicans are rejecting $300 million in "Green New Deal" grants aimed at "environmental justice priorities in public housing," and cutting $85 million of the "Yes in My Back Yard" program which Republicans say gives "bureaucrats in Washington the power to change local zoning laws."
The proposed bill also delves into some foreign policy areas, such as attempting to ban commercial flights to Cuba and prohibiting the government purchase of drones manufactured in China.
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The bill has advanced to the full Appropriations Committee and will be considered in a markup Tuesday morning.
DOT and HUD did not respond to requests for comment from the Washington Examiner.