USDOT Secretary Hosts Event to Kick Off Surface Transportation Reauthorization

7/18/2025

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy brought together congressional members and infrastructure stakeholders in a first-of-its-kind conference, July 17, to foster collaboration on priorities ahead of Congress’s surface transportation reauthorization process later this fall. View a video here.

“Our mission is to build as quickly and as much as possible. So, we’re working through a historic backlog as fast as possible to make sure we can get money out the door to all of you to make sure these projects are moving and moving quickly,” said Duffy. “With our money, we want you to build as fast, and we want to streamline the rules and regulations around what you do as much as possible.”

During his remarks, Secretary Duffy outlined President Trump’s America is Building Again agenda, including:

  • Enhancing transportation safety, including bridges, safety for transportation workers and pedestrians, truck parking, and autonomous vehicles.
  • Accelerating project delivery for transportation projects, including reforming the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and permitting, enhancing One Federal Decision, and increasing the use of technology.
  • Increasing opportunities through investment in transportation infrastructure that promotes economic growth, including through expanded capacity and mobility, congestion relief, and more private-sector investment.
  • Strengthening partnerships with states and other key stakeholders to improve transportation outcomes, including prioritizing the federal interest, greater efficiencies, and research.
From left: Federal Highways Administrator nominee Sean McMaster, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Secretary Duffy, TX DOT Executive Director Marc Williams.

After his remarks, Duffy signed a final Memorandum of Understanding with Texas DOT to help the state build infrastructure projects faster. The agreement allows Texas to take more ownership of environmental permitting requirements – cutting down on red tape so critical bridge and highway projects are started and completed faster. This federal-state partnership will serve as a model for other states interested in implementing Secretary Duffy’s “America is Building Again” agenda.

In a letter, Duffy also urged governors nationwide to assume NEPA responsibilities and take the lead on project delivery. This marks an historic removal of red tape that empowers state DOTs to manage their projects and cuts down on costs and delays.

As part of the process to collect feedback, USDOT announced a Request for Information titled “Advancing a Surface Transportation Proposal that Focuses on America’s Most Fundamental Infrastructure Needs.”

The current Surface Transportation Authorization expires Sept. 30, 2026. Reauthorization for surface transportation programs sets the funding levels, policy directives, and programmatic requirements for the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, FRA, FTA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.