Trump Administration

U.S> Department of Housing and Urban Development

Trump Official Done with a Month-Long Stay in New York Public Housing

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Regional (HUD) Administrator Lynne Patton's decision to live in New York public housing for a month was called a publicity stunt. One thing it is for sure: over.

March 19, 2019 - Associated Press via Crain's New York Business

President Donald Trump

Trump's Budget Would Cut Funding for HUD, Transportation, EPA, More

Presidential budgets usually arrive with zero chance of being adopted without changes, but still important to consider as a reflection of the Executive Branch's priorities.

March 11, 2019 - The Washington Post

Car Production Line

Auto Industry Reluctant to Support Trump Plan to Freeze Fuel Economy Standards

The auto industry appears to be balking at supporting the Trump administration's plan to freeze vehicle emission standards at 2020 levels even though they initially asked Trump to loosen the rigorous Obama-era fuel efficiency rule that goes to 2026.

March 10, 2019 - The Washington Post

Youth Protest

The Climate Change Lawsuit That Won't Go Away

The now-famous children's lawsuit, featured on 60 Minutes last Sunday, was not filed against President Trump—he just inherited it from his predecessor. Both administrations have tried to have the case dismissed.

March 6, 2019 - CBS News: 60 Minutes

California Governor

Yes, Trump Can Recoup the $3.5 Billion Awarded to California High-Speed Rail

The beleaguered project is still very much alive, despite some media claims to the contrary. As for the Trump administration's claim to two grants awarded to the now-$77 billion project, the state has a deadline to meet if it wants to keep them.

March 4, 2019 - Capital Public Radio

Metropolitan Detention Center

White House Ends Talks with California Over Fuel Efficiency Standards

Ending the talks means litigation will have to settle the conflict over the two standards: California and 12 other states continue to use the Obama-era standard of 36 mpg by 2025, while the administration's rule freezes standards at 2020, or 29 mpg.

February 25, 2019 - The Washington Post

Washington D.C. - The White House

Does Climate Change 'Really' Pose a Threat to National Security?

The White House is planning to establish a new climate panel, headed by a well-known climate denier, to question the findings of the president's own intelligence agencies that climate change does indeed pose a national security risk.

February 24, 2019 - The Washington Post

New York New Jersey Transit

Mixed Messages on Federal Spending Bill's Attention to Gateway Rail Project

Project supporters and the Trump administration disagree on the takeaway for the Gateway project after Congress and the president signed a federal spending bill earlier this month.

February 21, 2019 - Bloomberg

Border

Trump Administration Targets California High-Speed Rail After Border Wall Lawsuit

The Trump administration has canceled a nearly $1 billion grant assigned to the California high-speed rail project and is attempting to get the state to return the $2.5 billion it has already spent on the $77 billion project.

February 21, 2019 - The New York Times

Power Plants

The New World Leader in the Fight Against Climate Change

With the Trump administration's abdication of its predecessor's position on fighting climate change, a void has been left in global climate change leadership. One expert believes that China may have already filled the leadership role.

February 8, 2019 - PBS NewsHour

New York City

State of the Union: Infrastructure Week Is Finally Over

Infrastructure went from playing a major role in the State of the Union address a year ago. This year infrastructure warranted barely even a nod—about 62 words, in fact.

February 6, 2019 - James Brasuell

Air Pollution

EPA Enforcement Activities Hit 30-Year Low

Under the Trump administration, criminal prosecution of polluters is an historically rare activity.

January 21, 2019 - Associated Press

Sea Level

Defense Department Calls Climate Change a National Security Threat

The new “Report on Effects of a Changing Climate to the Department of Defense” isn't the environmental win that it could be.

January 21, 2019 - Vox

Border Wall

Property Rights Battle Expected Along Trump's Border Wall

Property acquisition in Texas won't come easy.

January 17, 2019 - The Washington Post

BART Station Construction

Effects of Federal Shutdown Only Beginning to Show at Local and State Transportation Agencies

Effects of the partial shutdown of the federal government differ between state highway departments and local transit agencies. Some effects aren't yet apparent, but could be soon.

January 16, 2019 - Governing

U.S. Census Bureau

Breaking News: Court Blocks Citizenship Question on 2020 Census

A federal judge's decision accuses U.S. Commerce Secretary of playing politics with the U.S. Census.

January 15, 2019 - AP News

California Central Valley

Let's Hope Trump Considers Infrastructure a National Security Issue Too

Maybe, just maybe, Trump might also be willing to consider the decaying condition of U.S. infrastructure a matter of national security. And if Congress played along, perhaps we'd get a 2019 Infrastructure bill. That's how Eisenhower did it.

January 14, 2019 - Robert Fischer

Washington, D.C.

Federal Shutdown Threatens Rental Assistance Program

The ongoing shutdown of the federal government could begin to have terrible consequences for some of the nation's most vulnerable populations.

January 13, 2019 - NBC

Campaign Rally

Sources: Trump Administration Considering an Attack on Disparate Impact

The Supreme Court upheld the disparate impact doctrine at the heart of fair housing rules, along with many other anti-discrimination policies, in 2015. Still, the Trump administration is looking for ways to undermine disparate impact.

January 9, 2019 - The Washington Post

U.S. Census Bureau

Census Bureau Finally Has a New Director

The U.S. Census Bureau had been without an approved director since May 2017. The Senate unanimously approved Steven Dillingham to the position with about a year to spare before the 2020 Census begins.

January 8, 2019 - NPR

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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