Administration Pauses Massive Funding for Chicago Transport Projects
The national freeze on billions allocated for the city of Chicago infrastructure projects was announced on the weekend, as stated by Budget Director the budget director.
Impacted Projects
Included in the initiatives affected by the financial halt are the Red Line extension, which was planned to begin construction next year and improve public transport to underserved neighborhoods in the urban area.
Additionally, modernization efforts on a number of transit lines were also put on hold.
Justification for the Freeze
The official wrote on social media that the financing was “frozen to ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting.”
The declaration follows a comparable move recently involving New York, where the director announced that millions for public works would be halted, including financial support for a proposed rail tunnel under the Hudson River.
Government Shutdown Situation
The move occurs as the federal government closure continues into its 72nd hour, with the US Senate scheduled to take a vote later in the day.
In spite of the scheduled Senate vote, there is minimal confidence that a resolution is near, as opposition lawmakers demand a number of health-related agreements.
Wider Consequences
Meanwhile, a increasing amount of national offices and personnel are clearly faulting the Democratic party for the stoppage.
The government communication by offices may be a infraction of the government ethics law, which prohibits federal employees from participating in partisan political activity.
Laid-off public servants at certain agencies have been instructed to set out-of-office messages indicating that they are not working because Democrats caused a shutdown.
“The progressive wing has chosen to shut down the United States government in the name of reckless spending and obstructionism,” an official government site reads.
Additionally, advisories over financial harm seem not to be encouraging conciliatory moves.
An analysis by a consulting firm estimated that every seven-day period the stoppage continues will mean a $7bn blow to the US economy.
