Trump ends White House infrastructure council plans

Updated Aug 22, 2017
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, President Trump and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao during a speech discussing the need to lessen regulatory approvals on infrastructure projects.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, President Trump and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao during a speech discussing the need to lessen regulatory approvals on infrastructure projects.

President Donald Trump has ended plans for creating a council on infrastructure issues including bridges and roads, according to a report by The Hill.

Plans for an infrastructure task force were announced prior to Trump’s inauguration and would have focused on implementing the president’s plans for improvements and spending of $1 trillion.

This council would also have reviewed projects to help in forming the president’s infrastructure plans. The Hill reports a nonprofit group had filed a lawsuit against the council, claiming it was operating in secret and that co-chairs Richard LeFrak and Steven Roth had conflicts of interest.

Last week, Trump signed an executive order to implement steps to streamline the permitting process for infrastructure projects.