An executive order signed by President Donald Trump led U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., to voice concern about the future of infrastructure projects, including the aging Blatnik Bridge between Duluth, Minn., and Superior, Wis.
Smith posted on the Bluesky social media platform that she was worried about the impact the order could have on the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — the Biden administration law funding more than $1 billion of the nearly $1.8 billion cost to replace the Blatnik Bridge.
But U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., says he is confident the order — among a flurry of orders Trump signed hours after he took office for a second time Monday — won’t affect federal funding for the bridge replacement.
In Section 7 of the executive order “Unleashing American Energy,” Trump called on all agencies to immediately pause the disbursement of funds appropriated through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law). Both measures were advocated by former President Joe Biden.
“Yes, the law that Republicans and Democrats came together to pass that fixes our roads, modernizes old bridges and makes drinking water safer,” Smith posted on Bluesky. Among the projects being funded by the law, she noted the Blatnik Bridge project in Duluth and Superior.
The executive order called on all agency heads to submit a report within 90 days that details the findings of a review for consistency with the law and the policy of the U.S. to encourage energy exploration and production. The order specifically cited “terminating the Green New Deal” and funding for electric vehicle charging stations and eliminating the “electric vehicle mandate.”
“Basically, what President Trump did is he ordered the federal government to freeze, to pause, to stop all spending associated with the Infrastructure and Jobs Act,” Smith told the Superior Telegram on Wednesday. “Now, the headline, the banner for this was sort of whatever he means by stopping the Green New Deal, but it was a blanket pause, which is creating a huge amount of confusion and concern. And that’s what I wanted to draw people’s attention to.”
She said the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed with bipartisan support and is very important in making improvements to road, bridges, broadband and other infrastructure.
“There is a big problem when a new president just basically says, ‘I’m going to stop all of this,’ even if it’s just for a short period of time,” Smith said.
Smith said it’s problematic because these are good projects that communities need, any pause takes time and money and results in delays, and it’s a law that was passed by Congress.
“The president is supposed to implement the laws,” Smith said. “He doesn’t get to pick and choose which laws he wants to implement and which laws he doesn’t just because he doesn’t agree with them.”
The administration needs to clarify the confusion created by these executive orders, the senator said.
The Minnesota and Wisconsin transportation departments are working on the preliminary design for replacing the Blatnik Bridge and phased construction is expected to begin in fall 2026.
Smith doesn’t believe funding for the bridge would be eliminated as a result of the order.
“I certainly hope not,” she said. “I think that would be illegal. The bridge has been funded. It has been agreed to according to federal law and so I hope that doesn’t happen.”
Stauber said he is confident the executive order won’t affect federal funding for the bridge because it is a traditional infrastructure project. Stauber also noted that Trump’s pick for transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, is a former congressman who represented Superior and understands the importance of the project.
“I will be sure to communicate with him on this matter,” Stauber said. “I applaud the Trump administration for conducting reviews to ensure the American taxpayers’ money is spent wisely.”
Stauber, who voted against the infrastructure bill that’s funding the Blatnik Bridge project, said initiatives like the $7.4 billion for electric vehicle charging stations would likely be rescinded since so few have yet been built.
More than 33,000 vehicles travel on the 60-year-old Blatnik Bridge every day, but heavy trucks are barred because of its decaying condition and that has caused lengthy detours.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said in an emailed statement about the order:
“These laws that I helped pass with my Democratic and Republican colleagues are making our roads and bridges safer, lowering energy costs and creating good-paying jobs across the Badger state. I will stand up to anyone, including the Trump Administration, who tries to halt these projects that have already been awarded and shortchange Wisconsin communities, families and our Made in Wisconsin economy.”
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