Memo Directs Funds According to Marriage, Birth Rates

Federal road funding in Wisconsin may change under a new order from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, which prioritizes areas with higher marriage and birth rates. Duffy’s directive aims to assist families with young children by favoring communities with marriage and birth rates above the national average for grants and contracts.
Wisconsin has seen declining birth and fertility rates, ranking 30th among states, which raises uncertainty about the impact of Duffy’s order. In Milwaukee, unmarried parents outnumber married ones, and the city recorded its lowest number of births between 2020 and 2023.