Latest news with #TransportationDepartment


New York Post
2 days ago
- Automotive
- New York Post
Only 400 EV-charging ports built under $7.5B US infrastructure program: GAO
US states have built less than 400 electric vehicle charging ports through April under $7.5 billion federal infrastructure programs, the Government Accountability Office said Tuesday. As of April 2025, 384 charging ports are operating at 68 stations in 16 states, GAO said, saying a joint office overseeing the program 'has not defined performance goals with measurable targets and time frames for its activities.' In May, California and 15 other states sued the Transportation Department, saying the federal government was illegally withholding at least $3 billion awarded to states for building EV charging stations under a 2021 infrastructure law. Advertisement As of April 2025, 384 charging ports are operating at 68 stations in 16 states, GAO said, saying a joint office overseeing the program 'has not defined performance goals with measurable targets and time frames for its activities.' UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The Transportation Department under President Trump in February suspended the EV charging program and rescinded approval of state plans pending a review. The GAO noted that Trump wants Congress to rescind $6 billion in unspent EV charging funding. Advertisement Nationwide, there are about 219,000 publicly available EV charging ports, according to the Energy Department. In June 2024, a Democratic senator criticized the previous Biden administration for deploying just seven EV charging stations with a few dozen ports calling it 'pathetic.' We're now three years into this … That is a vast administrative failure,' said Senator Jeff Merkley. 'Something is terribly wrong and it needs to be fixed.' The Trump administration has taken a number of steps to discourage EV sales. Advertisement The Transportation Department under President Trump in February suspended the EV charging program AP Trump signed legislation this month that will end the $7,500 EV tax credit and $4,000 used EV tax credit on Sept. 30. Trump in January revoked a 2021 executive order signed by Biden that sought to ensure half of all new vehicles sold in the United States by 2030 were electric. Advertisement In March, the General Services Administration told federal agencies that existing charging stations for government-owned EVs 'that are deemed not to be mission-critical should be disconnected from the network and turned off.' GSA said in April it had canceled 32 electric vehicle charging projects worth over $23 million.

Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Trump administration sanctions Mexico over air carrier trade pact
The Transportation Department has announced a series of actions against Mexico for violating a years-old bilateral air carrier trade pact. The department said Mexico has not been in compliance with the airline competition agreement since 2022 when it took back some slots for flights for U.S. air carriers at Benito Juarez International airport in Mexico City and forced U.S. cargo planes to shift their operations to other parts of the city. 'Since 2022, Mexico has altered the playing field significantly for airlines that reduce competition and allow prominent competitors to gain an unfair advantage in the U.S.-Mexico market,' a release from the Transportation Department said. 'The United States and Mexico have an air services agreement... that commits both parties to a liberalized operating environment for all has walked away from its commitments.' Mexico has said it rescinded the slots to make room for construction at the airport, but the work has yet to materialize three years later, the transportation department contended. 'By restricting slots and mandating that all-cargo operations move out of [Mexico City International Airport], Mexico has broken its promise, disrupted the market and left American businesses holding the bag for millions in increased costs,' the release continued. The 'America First' actions enacted by the Trump administration require Mexican airlines to file schedules with the transportation department for all of their U.S. operations, mandate prior DOT approval before operating any large passenger or cargo aircraft charter flights from the United States and addressing anti-competitive issues in the market. Mexico seized slots from U.S.-based carriers American Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines, as well as from three Mexican airlines -- Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris -- to make room for the construction. 'Despite repeated outreach from the Department, Mexico has not provided any information regarding when these slots would be returned or any major construction projects at MEX will ever materialize,' the release continued. Duffy added that the United States is also reviewing trade agreements with other countries to determine if they are being violated, including pacts with some European nations. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.


UPI
3 days ago
- Business
- UPI
Trump administration sanctions Mexico over air carrier trade pact
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced sanctions against Mexico for violating a trade deal at Mexico City's international airport. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo July 20 (UPI) -- The Transportation Department has announced a series of actions against Mexico for violating a years-old bilateral air carrier trade pact. The department said Mexico has not been in compliance with the airline competition agreement since 2022 when it took back some slots for flights for U.S. air carriers at Benito Juarez International airport in Mexico City and forced U.S. cargo planes to shift their operations to other parts of the city. "Since 2022, Mexico has altered the playing field significantly for airlines that reduce competition and allow prominent competitors to gain an unfair advantage in the U.S.-Mexico market," a release from the Transportation Department said. "The United States and Mexico have an air services agreement... that commits both parties to a liberalized operating environment for all has walked away from its commitments." Mexico has said it rescinded the slots to make room for construction at the airport, but the work has yet to materialize three years later, the transportation department contended. "By restricting slots and mandating that all-cargo operations move out of [Mexico City International Airport], Mexico has broken its promise, disrupted the market and left American businesses holding the bag for millions in increased costs," the release continued. The "America First" actions enacted by the Trump administration require Mexican airlines to file schedules with the transportation department for all of their U.S. operations, mandate prior DOT approval before operating any large passenger or cargo aircraft charter flights from the United States and addressing anti-competitive issues in the market. Mexico seized slots from U.S.-based carriers American Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines, as well as from three Mexican airlines -- Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris -- to make room for the construction. "Despite repeated outreach from the Department, Mexico has not provided any information regarding when these slots would be returned or any major construction projects at MEX will ever materialize," the release continued. Duffy added that the United States is also reviewing trade agreements with other countries to determine if they are being violated, including pacts with some European nations.


Euronews
4 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
Trump threatens Aeromexico, sparks air conflict with Sheinbaum
The Trump administration imposed new restrictions Saturday on flights from Mexico and threatened to end a longstanding partnership between Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico in response to limits the Mexican government placed on passenger and cargo flights into Mexico City several years ago. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Mexico's actions to force arilines to move out of the main Benito Juarez International Airport to the newer Felipe Angeles International Airport 50 kilometers away violated a trade agreement between the two countries and gave domestic airlines an unfair advantage. "Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg deliberately allowed Mexico to break our bilateral aviation agreement,' Duffy said, referring to the previous president and his transportation secretary. 'That ends today. Let these actions serve as a warning to any country who thinks it can take advantage of the US, our carriers, and our market. America First means fighting for the fundamental principle of fairness.' Mexico is the top foreign destination for Americans with more than 40 million passengers flying there last year. All Mexican passenger, cargo and charter airlines will now be required to submit their schedules to the Transportation Department and seek government approval of their flights until Duffy is satisfied with the way Mexico is treating US airlines. It's not immediately clear how Duffy's actions might affect the broader trade war with Mexico and negotiations over tariffs. A spokesperson for Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum didn't reply immediately to a request for comment. Sheinbaum didn't mention the new restrictions during either of her two speaking events on Saturday. Airlines likely to fight for continued partnership Delta and Aeromexico have been fighting the Transportation Department's efforts to end their partnership that began in 2016 since early last year. The airlines have argued that it's not fair to punish them for the Mexican government's actions, and they said ending their agreement would jeopardize nearly two dozen routes and $800 million in benefits to both countries' economies that come from tourism spending and jobs. 'The US Department of Transportation's tentative proposal to terminate its approval of the strategic and pro-competitive partnership between Delta and Aeromexico would cause significant harm to consumers traveling between the US and Mexico, as well as US jobs, communities, and transborder competition," Delta said in a statement. Aeromexico's press office said it was reviewing the order and intended to present a joint response with Delta in the coming days. But the order terminating approval of the agreement between the airlines wouldn't take effect until October, and the airlines are likely to continue fighting that decision. The airlines said in a previous filing fighting the order that it believes the loss of direct flights would prompt over 140,000 American tourists and nearly 90,000 Mexican tourists not to visit the other country and hurt the economies of both countries with the loss of their spending.


Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Trump administration imposes restrictions on Mexican flights; threatens Delta-Aeromexico partnership; blames Biden for aviation deal breach
US President Donald Trump's administration on Saturday imposed new restrictions on flights from Mexico. It also warned of ending the long-standing partnership between Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico, in retaliation to limits imposed by the Mexican government on passenger and cargo flights into Mexico City in recent years. "Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg deliberately allowed Mexico to break our bilateral aviation agreement," Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said, AP reported. "That ends today. Let these actions serve as a warning to any country who thinks it can take advantage of the US, our carriers, and our market. America First means fighting for the fundamental principle of fairness," he added. Duffy indicated that Mexico's policy of redirecting airlines from Benito Juarez International Airport to Felipe Angeles International Airport, situated over 30 miles (48.28 kilometres) away, breached international agreements and unfairly benefited their domestic carriers. He said the move gives Mexican carriers an unfair edge over US airlines. In response, the US will now require all Mexican passenger, cargo, and charter airlines to submit their flight schedules for government approval until the issue is resolved. Mexico remains the preferred international destination for American travellers, with passenger numbers exceeding 40 million in the previous year. Mexican airlines across passenger, cargo and charter services must now obtain Transportation Department approval and submit their flight schedules until the Secretary deems Mexico's treatment of US airlines satisfactory. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The impact of these restrictions on ongoing trade disputes and tariff discussions with Mexico remains uncertain. Delta and Aeromexico have contested the Transportation Department's attempts to terminate their partnership, which began in 2016. In an earlier filing, the two carriers also argued that ending the agreement could lead to over 140,000 Americans and nearly 90,000 Mexicans canceling travel plans, significantly impacting tourism-related spending and harming both economies. "The US Department of Transportation's tentative proposal to terminate its approval of the strategic and pro-competitive partnership between Delta and Aeromexico would cause significant harm to consumers traveling between the US and Mexico, as well as US jobs, communities, and transborder competition," Delta said in a statement. The airlines argue it's unfair to penalise them for decisions made by the Mexican government. They also warned that ending the alliance could put nearly two dozen flight routes at risk and impact $800 million in economic benefits tied to tourism and employment in both countries. Aeromexico's press office said it is reviewing the order and plans to issue a joint response with Delta in the coming days. However, the termination of the partnership approval won't take effect until October, giving the airlines time to continue challenging the decision. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now