Federal budget uncertainty complicates efforts to plan future Oklahoma road, bridge projects

The Express Star Janelle Stecklein. Oklahoma Voice

Oct 7, 2025

The federal government shutdown is not yet impacting Oklahoma highway projects, but could prove problematic if Congress is unable to reach a long-term funding agreement, Oklahoma’s top transportation official said.

Tim Gatz, who heads the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, said the federal government is still processing his agency’s bills as the shutdown enters its second week. But as the 2026 federal fiscal year gets further along, his agency would have to “very carefully consider” which projects they can do and which they cannot if they don’t have federal participation.

But he also said it would still be problematic if Congress only passes a short-term funding resolution because it wouldn’t provide the Oklahoma Department of Transportation access to one full year’s worth of federal funding.

View the full article: ChickashaNews.com