Transportation sec. rescinds memos on environment, social justice infrastructure

• Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy rescinded two Biden-era memos to refocus on traditional infrastructure priorities. The shift excludes social justice and environmental considerations.
• The decision aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order to eliminate DEI mandates in federal agencies.
• The Department of Education archived DEI-related documents and placed DEI initiative leaders on administrative leave following the executive order.

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Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced Monday, March 10 that his department will roll back two Biden-era memos that incorporated social justice and environmental considerations into infrastructure project planning.

The change in policy aims to shift focus to traditional infrastructure priorities and discard additional requirements related to greenhouse gas emissions and equity.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Transportation is getting back to basics — building critical infrastructure projects that move people and move commerce safely,” Duffy said.

Why is the transportation policy shifting?

The move aligns with an executive order Trump signed on Jan. 20, which called for the end of all diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, mandates in the federal government. Agencies were given 60 days to comply.

Which other departments are already in compliance?

The Department of Defense and Department of Education were among the first to begin those efforts.

“There are more executive orders coming that we fully support: removing DEI inside the Pentagon, reinstating troops who were pushed out because of COVID mandates, iron dome for America,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters after he was sworn in. “This is happening quickly.”

Within days of the executive order, the Department of Education removed or archived hundreds of guidance documents, reports and training materials that included mentions of DEI. The department also placed employees charged with leading DEI initiatives on paid administrative leave.

Straight Arrows News reached out to the Transportation Department and, as of publishing time, has not heard back.