What a Potential Harris or Second Trump Administration Means for Transportation

Under the Biden administration, the Department of Transportation (DOT) received a historic infusion of funding through the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill passed by Congress in 2021.

So far, DOT has allocated billions toward mass transit projects, highway repairs, port upgrades, and other transportation and infrastructure-related projects across the United States. 

However, with a presidential election only months away between VP Kamala Harris and former President Trump, both have an opportunity to either continue building on the transportation policies of the Biden administration or pivot in a different. 

Both candidates offer different visions for the future of transportation in the U.S. and several of our clients are curious about what a potential Harris or second Trump administration would mean for transportation policy.

We identified key policy initiatives that both Harris and Trump have supported, while in office or on the campaign trail, and provided our prediction of what direction each administration would steer U.S. transportation policy.  

Kamala Harris 

• During her 2020 presidential campaign, Harris promised to increase infrastructure spending to the tune of $1 trillion. 

• As a Senator she supported the Green New Deal, which would have provided a massive increase in funding to expand public transit, expanded EV access, and prioritized greener practices in road and highway maintenance

• As VP she has touted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill across the U.S. on Biden administration's “Investing in America’ tour. 

While her campaign has yet to release an official transportation policy platform, given this record we anticipate a Harris administration to follow closely behind and build on the policy initiatives of the Biden administration. 

This would include increased federal support for public transportation, a continuation of EV tax credits, and adopting greener construction practices for transportation-related projects. 

Donald Trump

• The Trump administration proposed $200 billion in funding to help support $1.5 trillion in infrastructure and transportation spending at the state, local and private level 

• Implemented a “2 for 1” rule which required federal agencies, including DOT, to revoke two regulations for every new rule they want to issue

• President Trump has been critical of Biden administration policies that have encouraged EV manufacturing and sales, signaling that he would reverse initiatives such as the $7500 EV credit. 

While Trump’s 2024 campaign has not released an official transportation policy platform, we predict a second administration would steer the DOT in a very different direction from the Biden administration. 

This includes reduced federal funding for public transportation projects, reversing Biden-era EV tax credits, rolling back transportation-related regulations, and looking more towards the private sector to spur transportation development.

As the 2024 presidential race continues, we will closely watch each campaign's transportation policy platform. 

If your organization needs to stay up-to-date on the latest changes in transportation policy, email the PoliciPro team at contact@policipro.com.