USDOT Secretary Duffy signs memos to rescind DEI, climate policies

On his first full day on the job, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy yesterday authorized a series of actions to rescind what the Trump administration describes as "woke" diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and roll back "burdensome and costly" regulations, according to a U.S. Department of Transportation press release.

Duffy signed the "Woke Recission" memorandum that directs the department's secretarial officers and heads of operating administrations to identify and eliminate all programs, policies, activities, rules and orders from President Biden's administration that "promote climate change activities, DEI initiatives, racial equity, gender identity policies, environmental justice and other partisan objectives," the press release states.

The memorandum, available here, is intended to align the department with several of President Donald Trump's recent executive orders.

Duffy also signed a memorandum, available here, to ensure that all USDOT policies, grants, loans and actions are "based on "sound economic principles, positive cost-benefit analyses and pro-economic growth priorities" and align with Trump's agenda, the press release states.

Additionally, the secretary approved the submission of a notice of proposed rulemaking to rescind the Biden administration's greenhouse gas measurement rule, which requires state transportation departments to measure and establish declining targets for carbon dioxide emissions on federally supported highways. The rule had been rescinded under Trump's first term, but was reinstated under Biden, according to USDOT.