Duffy blames Buttigieg-Biden rail-safety backlog as DOT moves to obligate $42 million for Brightline
Transportation secretary accuses the Biden administration of leaving an 'unprecedented backlog' in rail-safety funding; four Florida grants to Brightline will be obligated under the current administration after years idle.
A senior Republican critic of the Biden administration on rail policy accused the administration of presiding over an unprecedented backlog of rail-safety projects that were announced but not funded. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week that his department is now obligating four grants totaling $42 million to improve safety for Florida’s Brightline high-speed rail, which runs from Miami to Orlando. He framed the action as a corrective measure after the prior administration failed to deliver funds that had been promised for years. The department also asserted that the Trump administration inherited a backlog of more than 3,200 grants that were announced but never obligated by Buttigieg-Biden, delaying critical investments in communities across the country.
The four Brightline-related grants being obligated include $24.9 million for a trespassing and intrusion mitigation project, $15.4 million for a Broward County sealed corridor project, $1.6 million for a trespassing identification and classification system, and $150,000 for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to support overtime costs for enforcement at pedestrian hot spots. The department noted that the oldest grant in this package was first announced in 2022, and that, after substantial fanfare, the administration did not move forward with delivering the funds to Brightline or to project sponsors in Florida. The grants were described as having been announced and touted under Buttigieg’s leadership, but not obligated during the Biden administration.
"Under Secretary Duffy’s direction, the Department of Transportation is working diligently to accelerate the distribution of these long-overdue funds and address core infrastructure projects," the department said. Duffy characterized the unfulfilled safety grants as "the latest consequence of the unprecedented Biden-Buttigieg backlog." The Florida-focused action comes as a broader debate over rail safety and funding persists in federal politics, including responses to a 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
In response, Chris Meagher, a spokesman for Buttigieg, dismissed the DOT’s criticisms as "nonsense" and highlighted the administration’s overall investment in rail and road projects. Meagher said that during Buttigieg’s tenure the DOT announced more than $390 billion in funding for more than 78,000 projects, with over 22,000 projects completed, including hundreds of rail projects and thousands of miles of roadway and bridge work. He argued that project timelines can be lengthy and noted that incoming administrations inherit ongoing work that requires time to complete.
Another voice in the national debate came from a spokesperson for the Trump-era DOT, who told Fox News Digital that Buttigieg and Biden "talked a big game" but left a backlog that shows they did not push critical infrastructure dollars out the door. The spokesperson criticized the administration for what it described as focusing on issues unrelated to spending on infrastructure, citing debates over diversity, equity, and inclusion programs as well as internal questions about how resources were allocated. The Trump-era official praised Duffy’s efforts to clear the backlog and push funding to tangible projects such as the Brightline grants.
The political fight over rail funding intersects with broader accountability questions about safety investments after the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment in February 2023. Buttigieg’s handling of that crisis drew controversy, with critics arguing that regulatory changes were mishandled and that accountability shifted between administrations. Buttigieg has argued that responsibility for safety policy involves multiple layers, including regulatory reforms enacted by Congress in the mid-2010s.
As the Brightline grants move from announcement to obligation, DOT officials say the department is prioritizing safety-critical infrastructure projects and aims to reduce delays that have hampered improvements to fencing, grade crossings, and trespass-detection capabilities along high-speed rail corridors. The department emphasized that the Florida investments are part of a broader push to modernize rail safety nationwide, including preventative measures and enforcement support for hot spots.
The policy dispute arrives at a time when lawmakers and transportation officials are weighing how best to allocate limited safety dollars while balancing ongoing construction and maintenance needs across a sprawling national network. Duffy’s office has signaled that the administration will continue to address backlogs, promising that funds “will be delivered in record time” to support safety on railways, roads, and bridges. While the public record shows a sharp partisan divide over accountability for prior funding delays, the immediate focus remains on moving the Brightline-related safety projects forward and reducing risk to riders and nearby communities.
