The memo ties immigration enforcement to federal funding and prohibits mask or vaccine mandates.
A new memo issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation orders programs supported by the agency to prioritize funding for communities with higher-than-average marriage and birth rates, HuffPost reports. The memo also prohibits recipients of DOT funds from imposing vaccine or mask mandates, and ties funding to compliance with federal immigration enforcement.
“Newly confirmed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy buried his agency’s oddly specific requirement by describing the memo as focused on economic growth ― rather than population growth ― and echoed Trump’s criticisms of programs to improve diversity, equity and inclusion,” HuffPost reporters Sanjana Karanth and Jennifer Bendery write, noting that states with higher marriage and birth rates include predominantly white and religious states like Utah and South Dakota according to 2022 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The article includes the full memo, entitled “Ensuring Reliance Upon Sound Economic Analysis In Department of Transportation Policies, Programs, and Activities” as an embedded document.
FULL STORY: New DOT Memo Directs Funds To Communities With Higher ‘Marriage And Birth Rates’
California Halts Three Years of Population Loss
The Golden State grew by 67,000 people, or 0.17%, last year, to just over 39.1 million on Jan. 1, 2024, according to a demographic report released April 30 by the California Department of Finance.
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North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
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Santa Barbara Could Build Housing on County Land
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San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project
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A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard
After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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