The U.S. Department of Transportation reported U.S. House Republicans are seeking to make significant cuts to a range of critical programs that are essential to the everyday lives of the American people.
These programs include funding for transportation safety and infrastructure, which are two of the core components of President Joe Biden's budget, the Department said in an April 26 news release. The Republican proposal would lead to nearly 7,500 fewer rail safety inspection days and more than 30,000 fewer miles of track inspected annually.
"Accountability for freight railroad corporations must get stronger, not weaker. It's time to deliver strong rail safety legislation to the president's desk," Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in a post on Twitter.
Given the increase in train accidents, bipartisan senators have called for more rail inspections, not fewer, according to the news release.
Republican proposals would also withhold transportation infrastructure funding, the agency said in the release.
"Under the House Republican proposal, the United States would stand to lose nearly $5.2 billion in funding for transit and highway infrastructure projects all across the country," the news release said.
The proposal would also have an impact on the air travel industry. If approved, it would shut down services at 375 federally-staffed and contract air traffic control towers across the country, which could undermine safety at one-third of all U.S. airports, the release reported.
Additionally, it would increase wait times at TSA security checkpoints by more than two hours at large airports across the country, according to the news release.
"House Republicans’ proposal would slash funding for programs the American people depend on in their everyday lives — including funding that’s vital for ensuring transportation safety and improving our country’s infrastructure," the release said. "And they are demanding these cuts while separately advancing proposals to add over $3 trillion to deficits through tax cuts and giveaways skewed to the wealthy and big corporations."
