Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney expressed misgivings about several transportation provisions included the House version of the FY 2019 Transportation HUD (THUD) Appropriations bill passed last week in subcommittee.

While conveying appreciation for general infrastructure investment in the bill, Mulvaney wrote in his letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (here) “the bill underfunds key investments in critical areas supported in the FY 2019 Budget request and/or includes funding that the Administration believes is not in line with the overall restraint in non-Defense spending reflected in the (budget request)…”

In particular, Mulvaney objected to the House plan to increase funding for Capital Investment Grants by $1.6 billion and noted the funds would be better utilized by way of the state of good repair transit formula program.  Also, while supporting the major funding boost for BUILD grants, Mulvaney expressed concerns regarding “overly prescriptive project selection requirements and set asides” diluting DOT’s “ability to select the most meritorious grantees.”

Mulvaney’s letter also addresses other portions of the bill related to transportation as well as HUD and notes “the Administration looks forward to working with you to address these concerns.”