Governor Maura Healey sharply criticized the Trump Administration after it canceled nearly $32 million in federal funding that Massachusetts had secured to support its transportation infrastructure program. The funding, awarded in November 2024, was intended to help the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) purchase low-carbon asphalt, glass, steel, and concrete while also boosting U.S. manufacturing.
“President Trump says he wants to bring back manufacturing jobs to the U.S., but he’s canceling millions of dollars in funding that would’ve created manufacturing jobs and boosted American leadership in this industry,” Healey said in a statement.
She added, “He’s also hurting the ability of states across the country to purchase the construction materials we need to fix our roads and bridges — which we all rely on. This cancellation is bad for our communities and bad for our economy, and I urge the Trump Administration to reconsider.”
The decision came after the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Donald Trump earlier this month. The law rescinded the Low-Carbon Transportation Materials Program, which provided $1.2 billion to 39 states for sustainable infrastructure improvements. Massachusetts had been awarded $31,933,577 through the program.
MassDOT Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt underscored the loss:
“The loss of these federal construction funds presents real challenges for communities that have long awaited safer roads, better transit and stronger connections to opportunity.”
She continued, “These investments are not just about infrastructure; they are about the well-being of families, the vitality of local economies and the future of our state. While this decision delays progress, it does not deter our commitment. We will continue working with our federal partners to find solutions and secure the resources needed to move these critical projects forward.”
The cut does not impact the long-awaited Sagamore Bridge replacement, a project estimated at $2.1 billion. According to a MassDOT spokeswoman, the rescinded funding was only intended for purchasing sustainable construction materials and did not cover major bridge or roadwork.
The Sagamore Bridge project remains on track, with environmental testing, preliminary design reviews, and property acquisition already underway. Construction is slated to begin in 2027, ahead of the Bourne Bridge replacement.
Massachusetts has already secured $993 million in federal funding for the Sagamore Bridge through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Bridge Investment and Mega programs, adding to $722 million previously committed. The state’s updated five-year capital investment plan includes $1.09 billion dedicated to Cape bridge construction, ensuring the project moves forward despite the loss of the $32 million allocation.
The total cost of replacing both Cape Cod bridges is projected at $4.5 billion. While the funding loss is a setback for sustainable materials procurement, state officials emphasized that the Sagamore Bridge and other major infrastructure priorities are fully funded through different streams.
For Massachusetts, however, the cancellation marks a broader challenge: how to advance clean construction practices and local manufacturing jobs without federal backing.
Originally reported by Susan Vaughn in Cape Cod Times.
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