Governor Whitmer Header

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

August 7, 2025

Contact: [email protected]     

     

*Gov. Whitmer Calls on MDOT, LEO to Highlight Impact of State Road Funding Cliff, Federal Economic Policies on Michigan Workers and Economy*

"Letter directs departments to estimate impact of road funding cliff, economic uncertainty on construction employment and ongoing projects if bipartisan state road funding deal is not reached"

  

*LANSING, Mich. –* Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to the directors of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), calling on them to compile and publicly release data on the impact of the state’s road funding cliff and federal funding rollbacks and policies on Michigan’s economy and employment. As Michigan approaches this devastating funding cliff, national tariffs are simultaneously slowing business growth and raising unemployment. A bipartisan roads deal will improve people’s lives and help provide certainty in an uncertain time.

 

“With just weeks left to go until our state budget deadline, expiring federal and state resources to fix our infrastructure, and massive national economic uncertainty, Michiganders deserve to know what’s at stake if the legislature does not get a bipartisan roads deal across the finish line,” said *Governor Whitmer*. “If Republicans and Democrats in the legislature do not come together to get a roads deal done, we could lose thousands of good-paying jobs and stall dozens of infrastructure projects statewide, creating unsafe driving conditions for families, further straining already crumbling local roads, and jacking up the cost of future fixes. Delivering a bipartisan, sustainable roads plan will provide long-term certainty for workers, industry, and small businesses as we face uncertainty and volatility at the national level. Let’s get this done to make a real difference in people’s lives and keep moving Michigan forward.” 

 

*The Letter* 

Since Governor Whitmer took office through the end of this year’s construction season, Michigan will have repaired over 23,000 lane miles of road and 1,600 bridges, supporting over 188,000 good-paying jobs. Over the last six years, the Governor and the Legislature have worked together to deliver six balanced, bipartisan budgets investing more than $24 billion to fix Michigan’s roads and bridges, more than the previous eight years combined. 

 

The letter calls for a summary of the following information by or before *August 21*:  


* Projected construction job losses if a comprehensive road funding package is not enacted. 
* Estimated construction job losses stemming from recent or proposed federal economic policies (including tariffs) and an analysis of how a state-level road funding package could blunt or offset these losses.  

 

*Read the full text of the letter:*

"August 7, 2025 " 

"Susan Corbin, Director " 

"Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity " 

"Brad Wieferich, Director " 

"Michigan Department of Transportation " 

 

*"RE:"*" Assessing Potential Job and Construction Losses Due to Road Funding Cliff, Federal Uncertainty " 

"Directors Corbin and Wieferich, " 

 

"When I ran for Governor in 2018, I heard the same message across Michigan: we need to fix the damn roads. Since I took office, that’s exactly what we’ve been doing—moving dirt, putting down orange barrels, creating thousands of good-paying jobs, and rebuilding Michigan’s roads and bridges with the right mix and materials. " 

 

"With the help of the Rebuilding Michigan Plan, we will have repaired over 23,000 lane miles of road and 1,600 bridges by the end of this construction season—supporting over 188,000 good-paying jobs. These projects have been critical to growing our economy, keeping people safe on our road, and lowering the costs of car repairs for Michiganders.  " 

 

"Over the last six years, I have signed six balanced, bipartisan budgets investing more than $24 billion to fix our roads and bridges—more than my predecessor did in his full eight years in office. Through the Rebuilding Michigan bond plan and other investments, we’ve made historic progress. We launched the Bridge Bundling Program, sped up pothole repairs, reduced the cost of local road projects, and streamlined permitting for major projects. All this work has been paired with investments to train thousands of workers for high-wage jobs, including in the construction industry, and legislation to protect Michigan’s construction workers. " 

 

"However, the work is far from over. As the Rebuilding Michigan bonds and federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act near expiration, we are approaching a devastating funding cliff for our state-managed roads and additional pressures as we seek to rebuild local and neighborhood roads. Without a long-term, bipartisan road funding solution, thousands of good-paying jobs will be at risk. Critical projects will be delayed or canceled, creating more dangerous conditions for drivers, further straining our infrastructure, and jacking up the cost of future projects. " 

 

"This risk is compounded by economic uncertainty from Washington, D.C. Federal tariffs—both enacted and threatened—are slowing business growth and raising unemployment in Michigan. A long-term, sustainable road funding plan will provide certainty for workers, industry, and small businesses during a particularly volatile time. " 

 

"Investing in infrastructure is not just about pavement. It’s about real people, real jobs, and real paychecks. We cannot afford to fall behind. " 

 

"To ensure the public fully understands the real-world impact of this moment, please provide my office a summary of the following information by or before August 21: " 


* "Projected construction job losses if a comprehensive road funding package is not enacted, and"
* "Estimated construction job losses stemming from recent or proposed federal economic policies (including tariffs) and an analysis of how a state-level road funding package could blunt or offset these losses. " 

 

"With less than 55 days until Michigan’s constitutional budget deadline, I appreciate your prompt attention to showing the real-world impact on Michigan workers of including roads alongside the budget. Thank you for your continued commitment to rebuilding Michigan’s infrastructure and fighting for our workers. " 

 

"Sincerely, " 

"Gretchen Whitmer " 

"Governor" 

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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Executive Office of the Governor · 111 S. Capitol Ave · Lansing, Michigan 48901 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]

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