DOT Memo Prioritizes Funding for Communities With High Marriage and Birth Rates

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy directs funding preferences based on family demographics, sparking concerns over equity and intent.

A new Department of Transportation memo instructs staff to prioritize funding for communities with marriage and birth rates above the national average.
The directive, issued by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, ties funding to demographic factors while emphasizing economic growth and family accessibility.
The memo also bans funding recipients from imposing mask mandates and requires compliance with federal immigration enforcement policies.
Critics have raised concerns about the policy's implications for equity, as states with higher marriage and birth rates, such as Utah and South Dakota, tend to be predominantly white and religious.
The announcement coincided with a tragic aviation accident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, diverting immediate attention from the memo's rollout.