As Summer Travel Season Ramps Up, Garamendi Joins Democrats’ Demand for Roadway Safety

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, joined a group of his Democratic colleagues, led by Representative Chris Pappas (NH-01), in calling on U.S. Secretary of Transportation Duffy to halt efforts to reduce staffing levels at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). These reductions could result in the closure of state-level FHWA division offices, threatening the ability of the Department of Transportation to do its job, including the execution of critical public safety initiatives as the busy summer travel season ramps up.

In the letter, the lawmakers called attention to the reality that “the Administration’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce have already resulted in profound interruptions to the operations of FHWA division offices. In states like North Carolina and Texas, division workforces have been reduced by 50 and 60 percent respectively… These cuts are hindering division offices’ effectiveness, jeopardizing public safety, and threatening the critical work of the entire agency.”

They closed by calling awareness to the fact that “Gutting the FHWA’s workforce indiscriminately will make our communities less safe. Division offices must be given the support and staffing necessary to complete their vital work ensuring infrastructure stability and civilian safety. We urge the DOT to reevaluate its efforts to reduce staffing levels at the DOT and ensure that FHWA division offices have the proper staff to support the agency’s vital work.”

Congressman Garamendi joined a group of Congressional colleagues including: Rep. Pappas, Scholten, Hoyle, Hank Johnson, Brownley, Titus, DeSaulnier, Krishnamoorthi, Garcia, Huffman, and Chuy Garcia.  

Read the full letter here or below:

The Honorable Sean Duffy

United States Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

Dear Secretary Duffy,

We write to you today with deep concern regarding the Administration’s significant efforts to decrease the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) workforce. Specifically, we are troubled by reports1 that the reduction in staff at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) could result in the closure of numerous state-level division offices, ultimately threatening the productivity of the agency and the strength of public safety initiatives. We urge you to reconsider these staffing cuts and ensure FHWA can operate at the highest level of effectiveness.

FHWA division offices play a crucial role in supporting highway transportation projects nationwide. These divisions provide infrastructure maintenance and technical assistance in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, aiding projects in every step of the process from planning and research to construction and maintenance. By providing guidance to and working collaboratively with state DOTs, division offices ensure that our nation’s roads, bridges, and tunnels are safe and support economic growth. Their work is vital to the mission of the federal DOT, contributing local knowledge and on-the-ground support.

The Administration’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce have already resulted in profound interruptions to the operations of FHWA division offices. In states like North Carolina and Texas, division workforces have been reduced by 50 and 60 percent respectively, with approximately 700 total employees expected to accept deferred resignation offers in the near future. This reduction, in addition to the dismissal of approximately 3,000 probationary employees, will bring DOT to a staffing reduction of 12 percent since January of this year. These cuts are hindering division offices’ effectiveness, jeopardizing public safety, and threatening the critical work of the entire agency.

Gutting the FHWA’s workforce indiscriminately will make our communities less safe. Division offices must be given the support and staffing necessary to complete their vital work ensuring infrastructure stability and civilian safety. We urge the DOT to reevaluate its efforts to reduce staffing levels at the DOT and ensure that FHWA division offices have the proper staff to support the agency’s vital work.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your response.  

###