The prioritization of projects that met the heightened economic justification may result in other important projects that focused on climate or equity to go unfunded. Additionally, may unilaterally modify or completely cancel interventions and programs that already funded that incorporate topics that do not align with the current administration's priorities, including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, climate change activities, environmental justice, gender-specific priorities.
Department of Transportation
A written policy statement issued by a government agency or executive official that provides guidance, clarification, or direction on implementing laws or policies. Memos do not have the force of law but can influence policy interpretation and enforcement.
Who It Impacts: Federal agencies, policymakers, and sometimes regulated industries. Memos can shape how agencies enforce laws, impacting businesses, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders.
Who Is Not Impacted: Memos do not create binding legal requirements for the general public, though they can influence enforcement priorities that indirectly affect individuals and organizations.
Date Enacted
January 29, 2025
Last Updated
May 30, 2025
Policy Type
Climate
Transportation
Health and Disability
Children and Families
Summary
This action states that U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) must adhere to a heightened requirement of cost/benefit analysis, complicating the consideration of social justice, equity or environmental impacts. Projects will be prioritized if they support transportation for families, with preference to areas with marriage and birth rates higher than the national average. Projects will be deprioritized for communities that have vaccine mandates or mask mandates in place or that – in the opinion of federal administration - do comply with immigration enforcement.
Impact Analysis
Legal Challenges
Take Institutional Action
Health systems and providers should provide comment on DOT draft implementation guidance when published in the Federal Register.
Health systems and providers should partner with DOT funding applicants to provide supportive data to demonstrate the impact of proposed projects on families and children living in the community the provider serves.
Associated or Derivative Policies
EO 14148 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/28/2025-01901/initial-rescissions-of-harmful-executive-orders-and-actions
EO 14151 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/29/2025-01953/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-dei-programs-and-preferencing
EO 14154 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/29/2025-01956/unleashing-american-energy
EO14168 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/30/2025-02090/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal
Policy Prior to 2025
EO 14094 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/11/2023-07760/modernizing-regulatory-review
DOT 1000.17 https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2022-12/DOT1000.17-DOT-Equity-Council.pdf
DOT 4360 https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2023-09/DOT-4360-Climate_Adaptation_and_Resiliency_for_DOT_Operational_Assets_final.pdf
DOT 5610.2c https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2021-06/DOT%20Order%205610.2C.pdf
