Trump to Make Infrastructure Announcement

By Nandita Bose and Doina Chiacu

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump will make a “massive” infrastructure announcement on Tuesday, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. This announcement echoes Trump’s previously unfulfilled promise during his first term to enhance America’s aging roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.

Leavitt stated in an interview with “Fox & Friends,” “It’s going to be a massive announcement and it’s going to prove that the world knows that America is back.” The details of the announcement, scheduled for 4 p.m. (2100 GMT), were not disclosed.

During his 2016 campaign, Trump pledged to push a $1 trillion infrastructure bill through Congress. Throughout his first term from 2017 to 2021, he frequently discussed infrastructure but ultimately did not deliver on his promises, leading to the term “Infrastructure Week” becoming a punchline.

In contrast, his Democratic successor, Joe Biden, signed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill into law in 2021, which was supported by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers to fund thousands of projects for rebuilding roads, bridges, and new climate resilience and broadband initiatives.

As of Nov. 15, 2024, the Biden administration had announced nearly $600 billion in funding, launching over 72,000 specific infrastructure projects and grants.

The potential second Trump administration and the new Congress could influence the infrastructure law signed by Biden. According to the Brookings Institution, agency officials will have opportunities to allocate tens of billions of dollars in remaining competitive grants.