“Congress granted the Secretary of Transportation important authorities to conduct critical oversight to ensure that Federal highway funds are properly managed, and I take this authority seriously,” Duffy wrote in his September 18 letter to Governor Wes Moore.
Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) estimates place the replacement cost at $1.8 billion, with delivery expected in 2028. Duffy’s letter stressed the importance of maintaining traffic capacity, controlling costs, and delivering the project on time.
The FHWA emphasized that the rebuild will be fully funded by the Federal Emergency Relief Program, with DOT oversight to ensure accountability.
A significant portion of the letter addressed how Maryland intends to award contracts. Duffy warned that reliance on race- or sex-conscious contracting preferences could pose “legal vulnerabilities,” referencing the Supreme Court’s 2023 Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard ruling.
DOT has recently signaled plans to revise its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, with the U.S. Department of Justice advising in June 2025 that some program presumptions may be unconstitutional. A rulemaking is expected to be published in the Federal Register in the near future.
The FSK Bridge collapse in March 2024 disrupted shipping and commuter traffic across Baltimore’s harbor, placing pressure on state and federal officials to move quickly on replacement. The rebuild is seen as a test case for how the Trump Administration’s infrastructure policies—prioritizing speed, cost efficiency, and constitutional compliance—will be applied in practice.
Maryland leaders have maintained that the project is on track, but federal oversight introduces new scrutiny that could affect both timeline and contracting practices.
