US: Lawmakers fight White House transportation budget cut plan

The White House plan to cut transportation spending, privatize air traffic control and scrap long-distance train service is facing strong resistance in Congress. In May, the Trump administration proposed cutting discretionary US DoT spending by 12.7%, or $2.4b to $16.2b. A House of Representatives Appropriations Committee panel this week approved $17.8b in discretionary spending, $1.5b above the White House request. On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao addressed a US Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing. Senator Susan Collins, a Republican who chairs the panel, said she was disappointed in many proposed cuts. The House panel rejected a White House plan to end subsidies for Amtrak to operate long-distance train service, which would have cut $630m of $1.4b in annual government support for passenger rail service. The panel also rejected a plan to eliminate $150m in annual subsidies for commercial air service to rural airports. Many lawmakers also opposed the administration's proposal to privatize the air traffic control system. In June, the Senate Commerce Committee approved proposed changes in FAA policies. But unlike a House panel, it did not back spinning off air traffic control. The House will vote on the privatization plan as soon as next week. President Donald Trump says the move would modernize air traffic control and lower flying costs. The proposal has drawn fire from private plane owners and rural airports. Critics say it would hand control of an important service to special interests and big airlines.<br/>