Governance


  • U.S. flag flies above the Department of Justice building
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Justice Department cancels hundreds of public safety grants

    The move will impede progress that’s been made on deterring crime, the U.S. Conference of Mayors says, calling for the grants’ reinstatement.  

    By April 24, 2025
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    DOT threatens NY highway funds if congestion pricing continues

    The Trump administration set a May 21 deadline for New York state to end its tolling plan for Manhattan.

    By April 23, 2025
  • The head of the federal Department of Transportation announced on Thursday that the Trump administration would assume control of the $7 billion renovation of Pennsylvania Station
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    Adam Gray/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Trump administration takes control of $7B Penn Station redevelopment

    Neither the MTA nor the U.S. Department of Transportation has disclosed how the takeover will affect project timelines or ongoing construction activity at the site.

    By Sebastian Obando • April 22, 2025
  • A hand holding a sign reading, "Unfreeze the federal funds now."
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Judge unfreezes billions in IRA, IIJA funds

    The temporary injunction resumes public health, clean air and climate-resilience efforts halted by Trump’s executive order.

    By April 16, 2025
  • School buses stand idle on December 15, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
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    David McNew via Getty Images
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    ICE agents denied entry into LAUSD elementary schools

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security maintains the incidents, which rattled the education community, were "wellness checks on children who arrived unaccompanied at the border." 

    By Naaz Modan • April 16, 2025
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    photovs via Getty Images
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    Authorium steps into growing field of AI-supported government procurement products

    Authorium's new AI tool was trained on 15 million government procurement documents and can generate statements of work “in minutes," the company says.

    By Ryan Kushner • April 14, 2025
  • A massive cargo ship sits in the middle of a river surrounded by debris.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Maryland officials failed to test Key Bridge vulnerability

    The National Transportation Safety Board said the span was nearly 30 times above the acceptable risk threshold and urged owners to evaluate 68 older bridges across the country.

    By Zachary Phillips • March 21, 2025
  • Two men and two woman seated on a stage in front of a backdrop that reads "NLC - National League of Cities."
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    Nearly 3,000 city leaders gathered in Washington last week. Here’s what they had to say.

    Mayors, council members and nonprofit leaders heard from Vice President JD Vance, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and others at the National League of Cities meeting.

    By March 21, 2025
  • Aerial view of pilings and workers constructing a large viaduct.
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    Courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority
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    Can USDOT kill California high-speed rail?

    Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told the Federal Railroad Administration to review the Los Angeles-to-San Francisco project with an eye toward clawing back $4 billion in federal funds.

    By March 20, 2025
  • Man standing in a suit in front of a U.S. and EPA flags.
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    (2025). "EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin Launches the Greatest Day of Deregulation in American History" [Video]. Retrieved from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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    EPA to review ‘waters of the U.S.’ rule

    The rule defines which wetlands or bodies of water fall under the Clean Water Act. The three previous presidential administrations have adjusted its scope.

    By Mary Salmonsen • March 19, 2025
  • Woman and man seated on a stage in front of a banner that reads "NLC - National Leage of Cities."
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    City leaders name housing, public safety and infrastructure as top issues

    The National League of Cities Congressional City Conference brought together 3,000 city leaders to discuss these issues, with appearances from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Vice President JD Vance.

    By March 18, 2025
  • Two men shaking hands in front of a sign that reads "The White House - Washington."
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Up to $51B in transportation grant awards at risk, advocacy group says

    Transportation for America analyzed a leaked Department of Transportation policy memo that targets road safety, bicycle and electric vehicle infrastructure projects.

    By March 17, 2025
  • Man is a suit at a podium in front of a sign that reads "NLC - National League of Cities"
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    JD Vance calls for zoning, regulation reform to improve housing affordability

    Vice President JD Vance, speaking at the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference, also blamed immigrants for competing with U.S. citizens for housing.

    By March 13, 2025
  • An image of a man's face appears amid a soft foreground and background.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    EPA revisiting dozens of climate, environment rules in ‘day of deregulation’

    The agency said it would roll back a range of rules and programs, including some that are foundational to its efforts to address climate change. A new WOTUS definition is expected, as well as rollbacks to an emissions reporting program.

    By Jacob Wallace • March 13, 2025
  • People on a subway platform hold up cell phones to photograph a new subway train arriving in the station with a sign announcing its inaugural ride
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    New approaches to procurement can drive innovation in public transit

    The lengthy process from RFP to equipment delivery can result in trains that are already obsolete when they go into service. New technologies and procurement approaches could help.

    By Gabriel J. Lopez-Bernal • March 13, 2025
  • A man at a podium with a sign reading "National League of Cities Congressional City Conference" surrounded by other men and women.
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    Mayors condemn ongoing federal funding freeze

    Infrastructure, child care, Meals on Wheels and after-school programs are among those impacted, elected officials and nonprofit leaders said at a National League of Cities meeting this week.

    By March 12, 2025
  • Smiling man in a suit at a podium looking to his left as two men in suits applaud behind him.
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    Local government impacts of President Trump’s first 50 days

    President Donald Trump wasted no time in canceling or halting many of former President Biden’s initiatives that provided support to local governments. State, city and nonprofit leaders are turning to the courts to fight back.

    By Smart Cities Dive Staff • March 11, 2025
  • People walking and looking at a "Departures" board.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    US DOT asks DC transportation authorities to focus on cutting crime

    Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy directed Amtrak, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the District Department of Transportation to report and take action to improve safety.

    By March 7, 2025
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    DOT funding priorities benefit Whiter, wealthier communities: Urban Institute

    A plan to tie funding to marriage and birth rates would leave behind historically underserved communities, according to an Urban Institute analysis.

    By Kalena Thomhave • Feb. 25, 2025
  • A Boston elevated train pulls into a station on a cloudy day.
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    Maddie Meyer via Getty Images
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    FTA postpones enforcement of state safety oversight rule for rail transit

    Though the rule was effective Jan. 1, the Federal Transit Administration is  postponing enforcement to March 20 in line with a Jan. 20 executive order.

    By Feb. 25, 2025
  • A man wearing a gray and black jacket with the emblem of the city of Baltimore on the left side.
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    Rob Carr via Getty Images
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    23 AGs line up behind Baltimore in CFPB case

    Efforts to shutter the agency are against public interest, the AGs said. The CFPB’s attorneys argue it’s in the public interest to act “consistent[ly] with the philosophy of a new administration brought about by a national election."

    By Dan Ennis • Feb. 25, 2025
  • A woman in a blue jacket at a podium holding up a letter surrounded by several people.
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    (2025). [Video]. Retrieved from New York State.
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    NY takes on Trump in battle over congestion pricing

    U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy terminated approval of New York's program for tolling vehicles that enter Manhattan's central business district. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed to fight.

    By Feb. 20, 2025
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    Kent Nishimura via Getty Images
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    FEMA halts enforcement of flood rebuild rule, New York Times reports

    By not requiring buildings at risk of repeated flooding to be elevated or moved, the government isn’t saving money, critics say.

    By Robert Freedman • Feb. 19, 2025
  • People seated at a long desk with others in four rows of seats behind them.
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    (2025). "America Builds: A Review of Programs to Address Roadway Safety" [Video]. Retrieved from T&I Committee Republicans/YouTube.
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    Roadway safety requires traffic enforcement, infrastructure investments: House hearing

    Safety advocates and local government officials joined members of Congress in calling for action to reduce traffic deaths in a House subcommittee hearing.

    By Feb. 18, 2025
  • Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks at a podium.
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    Mark Makela via Getty Images
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    Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro sues Trump administration, citing frozen IRA funding

    The state’s agencies have limited access to over $3.1 billion in funding for activities including distributed solar deployment, well plugging and weatherization, according to the lawsuit.

    By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 18, 2025