Administration Pauses Billions for Chicago Infrastructure Initiatives
A federal pause on massive funding designated for Chicago's transportation plans was declared on Friday, according to Budget Director Russ Vought.
Affected Plans
Among the plans targeted by the financial halt are the public transit expansion, which was set to begin construction in the coming year and improve mass transit to less served areas in the city.
Furthermore, modernization projects on a number of transit lines were also frozen.
Reasoning for the Pause
The official wrote on social media that the financing was “paused to ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting.”
The statement comes after a comparable decision earlier this week involving New York City, where the official said that significant funding for transportation would be paused, including financial support for a new subway tunnel under the Hudson River.
Federal Stoppage Background
The decision happens as the federal government closure reaches its 72nd hour, with the Senate set to take a vote later in the day.
Despite the scheduled Senate vote, there is scant hope that a resolution is close, as the Democratic party insist on a set of health-related agreements.
Additional Implications
Additionally, a increasing number of federal agencies and staff are clearly faulting opposition leaders for the closure.
This political messaging by offices is potentially a breach of the government ethics law, which forbids government workers from conducting electioneering.
Suspended government workers at some offices have been told to set automated replies explaining that they are not working because opposition lawmakers caused a stoppage.
A radical left has chosen to shut down the United States government in the name of reckless spending and obstructionism,” the treasury department’s website states.
Additionally, advisories over economic damage seem not to be encouraging negotiation attempts.
A study by a consulting firm said that every seven-day period the stoppage lasts will mean a multi-billion dollar hit to the national economy.
