While former President Joe Biden (D) and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) quickly stepped up to clear the channel, reopen the Port of Baltimore, and secure funding for the rebuild post the March 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, the Trump administration is now working to stop the progress in another attack on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy sent a letter to Gov. Moore on Sep. 19, accusing the governor of “prioritizing race and gender-based requirements” over project completion, which is currently projected for 2028.
“One additional area of specific concern relates to whether Maryland intends to award contracts for the FSK Bridge project in a manner that relies on the race or sex of contractors,” said Duffy, who is seeking a meeting with the governor, in a letter to Moore on Friday morning.“Any reliance on race- or sex-conscious factors in contracting decisions could introduce significant legal vulnerabilities and inefficiencies in the management of the project.”
Moore responded that same day to Duffy’s comments, noting that more than 10% of Maryland’s economy sails through the Port of Baltimore and port cargo is needed across the nation. Further, the governor emphasized the safety of the bridge and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars as top priorities in the rebuilding effort.
“We moved with speed and efficiency to secure expedited permitting to begin the rebuild immediately, clearing the channel to the Port of Baltimore in 11 weeks when some experts said it would take 11 months,” Moore said in a statement. Since then, we have worked expeditiously to promote full restoration of the bridge as a critical asset to our nation’s economy. Today, the project continues in the design phase, with demolition and pre-construction underway in parallel.”
Maryland’s congressional Democrats, including Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, also signed onto a letter in response to Duffy’s letter to Moore, noting the tragic impact of the collapse and the federal government’s commitment to covering rebuilding costs.
“The Key Bridge was bigger than Baltimore and Maryland – its collapse took away a vital transportation artery for the broader region and a gateway to the Port of Baltimore. As we have with other major infrastructure disasters with nationwide implications, Congress came together on a bipartisan basis to provide the full resources necessary for reconstruction to ensure it can be rebuilt as quickly and efficiently as possible,” the Maryland leaders wrote in a joint letter. “The federal government’s commitment to fund the rebuild is enacted into law, and the construction contract was awarded through a legal, competitive, transparent process.”
Fighting for Marylanders in the House and Senate, the Democratic politicians also emphasized their dedication to the rebuild.
“We will continue working with the Department of Transportation and our partners to keep delivering on this national priority and commitment,” they said.
