Trump Administration Halts $11 Billion Infrastructure Projects in Democratic States Amid Government Shutdown

The Trump administration, led by White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, has announced it will pause over $11 billion in infrastructure projects in mostly Democratic-controlled cities and states due to the ongoing government shutdown. These projects, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, include water infrastructure, transportation, and energy projects in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Baltimore, with New York alone accounting for about $7 billion. The administration attributes the pause and potential cancellations to the shutdown, blaming Democratic opposition for draining the Corps' capacity to manage these projects. This move is part of a broader pattern, with the Trump administration previously freezing at least $28 billion in similar projects in Democratic areas and targeting states that voted against Trump in the 2024 election. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, accuse the administration of using federal funding as a political weapon against opposition states, while the administration cites the need to reprioritize federal spending and manage resources amid the shutdown. The Army Corps of Engineers has not provided detailed comments due to policies restricting communications during the lapse in appropriations.