Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Administrator Sean McMaster touted a dramatic surge in infrastructure projects under the Trump administration, marking a sharp contrast with the previous administration's record. In a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing this week, McMaster highlighted that the FHWA has executed 888 grants and delivered $8.4 billion in competitive grants since President Trump took office—nearly matching the $9.43 billion the Biden administration distributed over four years.
McMaster, nominated by Trump in March 2025, framed the progress as part of a broader push to revive American infrastructure ahead of the nation's 250th birthday. He noted that the administration is also celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Interstate Highway System and 100 years of Route 66, tying the current efforts to historic milestones. "We're moving full speed ahead to honor these milestones," McMaster said.
Construction Boom
The FHWA authorized action on more than 74,000 unique projects in 2025, with active construction projects soaring to over 32,000—a 60% increase from the 20,000 active projects in the final year of the Biden administration. McMaster attributed the surge to the Trump administration's focus on "large, durable projects" that prioritize safety and connectivity. "Every stalled project is a failed opportunity to deliver for the American people," he told the committee.
Clearing the Backlog
McMaster inherited a backlog of 1,832 stalled grants worth $20.6 billion, which he said were trapped in bureaucratic purgatory due to social, climate, and environmental-justice mandates imposed by the Biden administration. By stripping away those requirements, the FHWA has approved and executed 60% of the inherited backlog. "The Biden administration believed it was the federal government's job to police what people think and how people build; the Trump administration knows our real job is getting back to basics and getting shovels in the ground," McMaster said.
Streamlining environmental reviews has also yielded time savings. McMaster reported that the agency shaved nearly half a year off the average Environmental Assessment timeline, handing back nearly 22 cumulative years of lost time to infrastructure builders. "Every month a project spends trapped in a federal review process is a month of taxpayer dollars wasted on consultants instead of concrete," he added.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration faces headwinds on other fronts. Trump's net approval has hit a record low amid ongoing conflict with Iran and persistent inflation, though the White House has shown no urgency to shift its agenda before the midterms, as Senator Short recently noted.
A Birthday Gift for the Nation
McMaster concluded his testimony by framing the infrastructure push as a birthday present for America's 250th anniversary. "By sticking to the basics, we aren't just saving taxpayer dollars—we are building the foundation for an America that will be stronger, more connected, and more prosperous for the next 250 years," he said. "I can't imagine a better birthday present for our great country."
