# TRANSPORTATION TODAY PODCAST - MAY 16, 2025
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Hello and welcome to Transportation Today, your weekly update on America's infrastructure and mobility news. I'm your host, and today we're diving into the latest developments from the Department of Transportation.
Breaking news this week: Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced $1.5 billion in competitive grant funding to expand bus manufacturing across America. This funding initiative is part of the administration's "Get America Building Again" campaign, with a notable shift in priorities.
"American commuters don't want to pay for deranged, leftist DEI mandates that don't improve the efficiency of their daily commutes," said Secretary Duffy yesterday. "They care about getting home safely and quickly to the families they are working so hard to provide for."
This announcement follows sweeping policy changes implemented since January, when Secretary Duffy ordered a comprehensive review of competitive grant programs, particularly focusing on projects approved between 2021 and 2025 that emphasized climate initiatives or diversity programs.
The DOT is also streamlining identification for trucking companies. Starting October 1st, the FMCSA will eliminate Motor Carrier numbers, consolidating carrier identification under USDOT numbers exclusively. This change aims to reduce fraud and simplify the registration process.
For commercial drivers, the medical certification process is going digital on June 23rd. Certified medical examiners will electronically submit DOT exam results directly to the National Registry, eliminating the need for drivers to carry paper certificates.
These changes reflect broader shifts in transportation priorities under the current administration. State and local governments seeking federal funding now face different criteria, with economic efficiency and family-focused outcomes taking precedence over previous administration's climate and equity initiatives.
Looking ahead, the Department is moving forward with plans to build a new air traffic control system, announced earlier this month. The initiative has garnered unprecedented support across the aviation industry.
For businesses in the transportation sector, particularly manufacturers, these changes present new opportunities but require attention to evolving compliance standards. Fleet operators should prepare for potential updates to electronic logging device regulations and hours of service rules.
If you're involved in transportation planning or seeking federal funding, now is the time to review your proposals to ensure alignment with current priorities.
That's all for this week's Transportation Today. For more information, visit transportation.gov. Until next time, safe travels!
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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
