ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Trump Administration is expressing concerns over rising costs of a new Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Initially reconstruction was estimated to cost around $1.9 billion with a 2028 completion date.
The expected price tag has since increased to between $4.3 and $5.2 billion, while pushing back the anticipated reopening until 2030.
WATCH: Trump Administration raises concern over rising cost of Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild
This has gotten the attention of U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, who on Tuesday announced an upcoming meeting with Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
“Maryland’s highways help connect thousands to our nation’s capital, and as part of our effort to revitalize the area and make it safe and beautiful, holding leaders accountable at every level is essential to making sure taxpayer dollars are used effectively and efficiently,” said Duffy.
The meeting follows-up on a September 2025 letter Duffy sent to Moore raising oversight concerns about the Key Bridge replacement, a bill taxpayers will be footing.
Federal officials and Moore will also reportedly discuss a stalled construction project of the American Legion Memorial Bridge, which former Governor Larry Hogan made one of his signature issues to ease congestion along the I-495/I-270 corridor.
In order to get that process restarted, the feds have issued a new Request for Information seeking public input on accelerating work on the American Legion Memorial Bridge.
“Governor Moore’s lack of action on the American Legion Bridge corridor is holding back progress on one of the nation’s most critical transportation routes,” said Federal Highway Administration Administrator Sean McMaster. “That’s why the Trump Administration is seeking public input to restart the multi-state plan to relieve congestion in this heavily traveled corridor on both the Virginia and Maryland sides.”
When reached for comment, Moore's Senior Press Secretary, Ammar Moussa, issued this statement.
"Governor Moore continues to engage with bipartisan Congressional leadership and the Trump Administration to move forward quickly on the rebuild of the Key Bridge and remains open to innovative ways to improve the American Legion Bridge with the federal government. We all recognize the rebuild of the Key Bridge and other infrastructure improvements to enhance transportation mobility is important to the economic vitality of both the region and the nation, and the Governor looks forward to meeting with Secretary Duffy."
It's unclear when or where the meeting will occur.
Maryland lawmakers, affected neighbors react
This development is welcome news for Maryland's congressional delegation.
"I'm glad to see these conversations are happening. I think it will help us deliver the project as quickly as possible and as cost-effective as possible as well," Rep. Johnny Olszewski of Maryland's second district said.
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, who sits on the Senate Appropriates Committee, also noted it was a positive development. He thanked Duffy at a hearing in May for his commitment to rebuild the Key Bridge.
"At that time, he was very positive about the federal government's role here and it is written into the law. So the Trump Administration would need to seek a change in the federal law, the federal statute if they wanted to escape this responsibility. So, I really hope they don't try to go down that road," Van Hollen said.
The governor has sparred with the president since he took office earlier this January.
“I don’t want to see any personality conflicts jeopardize what is the most important infrastructure project in our state, perhaps one of the largest and most important infrastructure projects in the mid-Atlantic," Olszewski said. “That is well established law, there is no way the president can take that money back.”
“Fix the bridge, fix our community and try to get life back to some kind of normalcy," Turner Station resident Lindwood Jackson said.
Jackson's home is the closest to the footprint of the bridge. From the increased truck traffic, to construction noise and monitors that make his backyard look like the moon landing, the impacts of the loss of the bridge have been non-stop.
The construction delay means less time focused on the other problems his community has been experiencing since before March 2024.
"Once they get the funding, then they can get back to what our original problem is, the flooding and the superfund site. We've got to get that water cleaned up," he said.
When asked what he would tell the governor before his meeting Jackson had this to say:
“I would say, think about the constituents and the things that we need. And also, persuade the government to take the politics out of this bridge. And build a bridge. If you can send $50 billion down to Argentina, this ain’t no big issue here," he said.
"The commitment in the law is not any specific dollar amount. The commitment in the law is to cover the full costs, also recognizing the federal government will be compensated and reimbursed, any funds that come out of the litigation," Van Hollen explained. "We do expect those to be substantial."
