Trump officials issue caution to Moore regarding Key Bridge expenses and alleged unconstitutional diversity and inclusion practices
In a recent development, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has written a letter expressing concerns about the proposed timeline and potential legal vulnerabilities of the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuilding project in Maryland.
Duffy, who is alarmed by Governor Wes Moore's proposed completion date of October 2028, stated that his agency is concerned about DEI contracting practices and ballooning project costs that could potentially delay the critical project.
The former President, Joe Biden, had promised to fund the bridge's rebuild and sent a $100 billion disaster relief request to Congress before leaving office. Governor Moore established Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals for the project's rebuilding soon after taking office in February 2023, setting a 31.5% goal for contracts to be awarded to women-owned and minority businesses.
Duffy, who is tasked with ensuring American tax dollars are spent properly and major projects are completed on time and on budget, asked a Federal district court to declare the race- and sex-based 'presumptions' of disadvantage in the DOT's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program unconstitutional. He also threatened to leverage oversight authorities to ensure the bridge is rebuilt the right way.
The lead contractor on the project, Kiewit Corporation, is committed to meeting the DBE goals set by Maryland for the project. However, Duffy expressed concerns about potential legal vulnerabilities and inefficiencies in the management of the project due to contracting decisions.
Gov. Moore did not immediately respond to Spotlight on Maryland's request for an initial reaction to the letter. Spotlight on Maryland, a collaboration between FOX45 News, its website in Washington, D.C., and The Baltimore Sun, is following this story closely and will update as more information becomes available.
In other news, Governor Moore announced a new design concept for the Key Bridge in February and stated that the state was moving forward with final regulatory approvals before beginning construction.
For updates on this developing story, follow Gary Collins with Spotlight on Maryland on X and Instagram. If you have any news tips, send them to [email protected].
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