While the government shutdown enters its third week, the Trump Administration is planning to hold up funding meant for infrastructure projects across the nation, including money meant for the replacement of the Bay State’s Cape Cod bridges.
The Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought, took to social media to announce that billions slated for what he called “low-priority” projects would be paused and reviewed for potential cancellation as a result of the “Democrat shutdown,” which he said “has drained the Army Corps of Engineers’ ability to manage billions of dollars in projects.”
“The Corps will be immediately pausing over $11 billion in lower-priority projects [and] considering them for cancellation, including projects in New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Baltimore. More information to come from the Army Corps of Engineers,” the man behind much of Project 2025 wrote.
The federal government has been partially shut down since October 1. Republicans are blaming Democrats for standing in the way of funding the government even while controlling all three federal branches including both chambers of Congress.
The apparent funding pause comes as the state finds itself in the midst of a multi-year effort to replace the federally-owned Bourne and Sagamore Bridges. The two bridges provide the only roadway connection on and off of Cape Cod for the 263,000 residents of the Cape and Islands, as well as for 5 million annual visitors.
The 90-year old bridges are owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Preparatory groundwork began earlier this year and construction was slated to begin for replacement Sagamore in 2027.
While Vought did not mention the Cape Cod Bridge project specifically, according to State Sen. Dylan Fernandes, the target of the administration’s funding pause could not be more clear.
It’s quite concerning that the ”lawless” Trump Administration would attempt to “steal funds dedicated to the Cape Bridge project,” Fernandes said, especially after pushing through cuts to “healthcare and food benefits for three hundred thousand Massachusetts residents to pay for tax cuts for the rich.”
“Trump and Congressional Republicans couldn’t care less about the lives of Cape and Islanders, and this cut could do irreparable damage to our region. This action by the Trump Administration threatens to close the Cape bridges, and we are going to fight back to ensure Cape and islanders have safe and reliable transportation access,” he said.
Bay State Gov. Maura Healey, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and U.S. Rep. Bill Keating issued a joint statement saying they had received no notice from the Trump administration about any adjustment to the Cape Cod bridge projects, but that they were aware of Vought’s message.
According to the lawmakers, the state’s focus will remain “on rebuilding both bridges and delivering the safe, reliable transportation infrastructure that our residents, visitors and businesses deserve.”
“The Cape Cod Bridges are federally-owned assets that carry millions of travelers a year, and are essential for the safety of Cape Codders and visitors from across the country and the world. This project is moving forward with funding appropriated by a bipartisan Congress and lawfully awarded by the federal government,” the lawmakers said in their joint statement.
Massachusetts has already come up with more than $700 million to help fund the project, after the state signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Department of the Army and the Federal Highway Administration last year to see $350 million in Army Corps funds dedicated to the Sagamore project and $250 million set aside for the Bourne project.
Including the USACE funding, according to the lawmakers, the state and the congressional delegation have secured $1.72 billion in federal commitments toward replacing the bridges.
The cost for replacing both Cape bridges with new twin-bridge structures is estimated to be upwards of $4.5 billion, and replacing the Sagamore alone during the first phase of the project represents about half — or around $2.1 billion — of that total.
When the memorandum was signed, Army Col. Justin Pabis, the commanding officer of USACE, New England District, said that the project would “offer us a safer bridge, with more lanes and greater accessibility for the thousands of residents and visitors who rely on this route connection every day.”
“This collaboration between USACE, MassDOT and the FHWA marks our shared commitment to giving the Cape a modern and resilient bridge, capable of meeting the needs of tomorrow,” he said.
The aging bridges were built in 1935 and, according to the Army Corps, will require an estimated $775 million in upkeep costs over the next 50 years if they are not replaced, to say nothing about the economic impacts to Cape Cod from lane restrictions and closures.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment, citing “staff shortages resulting from the Democrat Shutdown.”
“As you await a response, please remember this could have been avoided if the Democrats voted for the clean Continuing Resolution to keep the government open,” the White House Press office said in an automatic reply.
President Donald Trump waves as he walks to depart on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House on Friday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
