Key Bridge Funding in Jeopardy as Federal Spending Bill Stalls

Key Bridge Funding in Jeopardy as Federal Spending Bill Stalls

A federal spending bill that would have fully funded the reconstruction of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge has hit a roadblock in Congress, just days before a potential government shutdown deadline of December 20.

The proposed legislation, which included $110 billion in disaster relief, faced opposition from President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) confirmed that the stopgap funding measure announced Tuesday has failed, leaving the path forward uncertain.

Maryland Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin had announced that their Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act was incorporated into the continuing resolution, which would have maintained government operations until March 14. The act would have guaranteed complete federal funding for the bridge’s replacement, with provisions for reimbursement through insurance payments and legal proceedings.

The Bridge Project The Maryland Transportation Authority has already approved a $73 million contract with Kiewit Infrastructure Company for the bridge’s design and construction. The total project is estimated to cost nearly $2 billion and is projected to be completed by fall 2028.

Background on the Collapse The disaster occurred on March 26, 2024, when the cargo ship Dali lost power and struck the bridge around 1:30 a.m. The collapse claimed the lives of six road workers:

• Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35
• Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26
• Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval, 38
• Carlos Hernandez, 24
• Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, 49
• Jose Mynor Lopez, 35

The incident forced the closure of the Port of Baltimore, one of the nation’s largest ports, for several weeks.

Federal Response President Biden has consistently supported full federal funding for the bridge’s reconstruction. Following the collapse, he approved Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s request for $60 million in emergency relief funding for debris removal from the Patapsco River. In November, Biden included the bridge reconstruction in a broader $100 billion disaster fund request to Congress.

Governor Moore emphasized the national significance of the project, stating, “This is bigger than politics, this is bigger than an election cycle, this is bigger than partisan differences. This is about America’s economy.”

The future of the bridge funding now remains uncertain as Congress continues negotiations to avoid a government shutdown.