Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog Capitol Hill

Congress Approves Repayment for U.S. DOT Workers Furloughed by Bunning

After a six-week delay, Congress last night agreed to repay U.S. DOT employees for the two days of work they missed when Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) filibustered an extension of the 2005 transportation law, forcing a temporary shutdown of much of the federal agency's business.

art.bunning.gi.pngSen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) (Photo: CNN)

The repayment language was attached to a larger measure that temporarily extended unemployment benefits, which President Obama quickly signed into law this morning.

The House had approved a stand-alone bill compensating the U.S. DOT workers last month, but Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) held it up in a bid to force Congress to pay the estimated $1 million cost out of its own accounts, rather than using funds already appropriated to the agency.

Nearly 2,000 employees were held off the job at the U.S. DOT while Senate leaders navigated Bunning's blockade, which stemmed from his insistence on paying for a separate unemployment benefits extension that was attached to the transportation measure. The transportation law was ultimately extended retroactively, and later until 2011 under a jobs bill that President Obama signed last month.

“Restoring the lost pay is the right
thing to do," House transport committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN), sponsor of the repayment measure, said in a statement.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Wednesday’s Headlines Are Bigger and Beautiful-er

President Trump's signature bill subsidizes car-buyers while snubbing bike commuters.

July 9, 2025

Removing ‘Rainbow Crosswalks’ Won’t Make America’s Arterials Safer

Secretary Duffy wants to tackle dangerous arterials. So why is he coming after rainbow crosswalks most often seen on narrow city roads?

July 9, 2025

The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Is About Our Transportation Future, Too

Transportation didn't get a lot of mention in the public discussion of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. But it's everywhere.

July 8, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines of Many Colors

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called rainbow crosswalks "a distraction" and called on cities to eliminate them.

July 8, 2025

Form-Based Codes Mean More Sustainable Cities

New research shows that prioritizing building "form" over their use leads to more sustainable cities.

July 8, 2025

Monday’s Headlines Are Big and Beautiful

The ginormous GOP tax and spending bill President Trump signed on July 4 will make the air dirtier, a lot of it from tailpipe emissions.

July 7, 2025
See all posts