WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement in response to the USDOT memo re-directing federal funds away from communities:
“Investing in our nation’s transportation is essential for maintaining strong communities and a vibrant economy. It is absurd to re-direct taxpayer dollars away from our communities because of arbitrary standards such as marriage and birth rates; or to use federal funding policies as a cudgel to push states and localities to fall in line on the president’s policies. Clearly, this isn’t about public safety or transportation. It’s about dividing Americans while those in power work to enrich billionaires and hope that we don’t notice.
“Meanwhile, the workers who have dedicated their careers to maintaining our transportation infrastructure are being attacked. Our economy and working families will pay the price if this continues.”