Five Key Transportation Funding Proposals in Trump’s Budget

The President’s proposed 2026 budget would keep spending roughly the same for transit and rail and eliminate over $5 billion in funding for EV charging infrastructure.

1 minute read

June 10, 2025, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Texas Eagle Amtrak train pulling into station in Austin, Texas with glass high-rise buildings in background.

An Amtrak Texas Eagle train in Austin, Texas. | Lars Plougmann, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons

What does Trump’s budget mean for transportation? In a piece for Smart Cities Dive, Dan Zukowski outlines five key takeaways.

According to Zukowski, “The Federal Transit Administration’s budget would remain in line with the current fiscal year at $21.2 billion, including $4.3 billion in advance appropriations from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. That is $1 billion less than authorized for fiscal 2026 by the infrastructure law.”

The proposed budget would increase public transit funding by 1.5 percent and keep Amtrak spending essentially the same while shifting spending from the Northeast Corridor to national rail projects. It call for $3.8 billion in Capital Investment Grants, but eliminates “certain IIJA allocations for New Start, Core Capacity, Small Starts and Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program projects.” The budget requests an additional $500 million for  the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements program, which funds passenger rail improvements.

The budget cuts roughly $5.7 billion in electric vehicle charging programs.

Friday, June 6, 2025 in Smart Cities Dive

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 4, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

White and yellow DART light rail train in Dallas, Texas with brick building in background.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process

The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

May 28, 2025 - Mass Transit

Group of five people sitting on blanket in park on sunny day having picnic.

Parks: Essential Community Infrastructure — and a Smart Investment

Even during times of budget constraint, continued investment in parks is critical, as they provide proven benefits to public health, safety, climate resilience, and community well-being — particularly for under-resourced communities.

June 10 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Close-up on older woman holding contented looking cat on her lap.

Porches, Pets, and the People We Grow Old With

Neighborhood connections and animal companions matter to aging with dignity, and how we build can support them. Here’s a human-scale proposal for aging in place.

June 10 - Shelterforce Magazine

Concrete staircase next to elevator in bright building with large windows.

Single-Stair Design Contest Envisions Human-Scale Buildings

Single-stair building construction is having a resurgence in the United States, where, for the last several decades, zoning codes have required more than one staircase in multi-story housing developments.

June 10 - Congress For New Urbanism

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.