DOT Sec Duffy Puts Blue Cities On Notice: Not Going to Pay To Rebuild Cities The Left Let Rioters Destroy

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the Department of Transportation will not use federal funds to repair infrastructure damaged during protests that local officials allowed or encouraged.

His stance is part of a growing federal pushback against cities that embrace soft-on-crime policies and then ask taxpayers to foot the repair bill.

Key Facts:

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on “The Benny Johnson Show” that DOT will not fund repairs for infrastructure damaged during left-wing protests.
Duffy cited requests from cities like Minneapolis seeking federal aid to fix roads and bridges damaged during the George Floyd riots.
He criticized local officials, such as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, for encouraging or celebrating protesters while blocking federal efforts to restore order.
Duffy said cities that allowed violence to continue cannot now expect American taxpayers to pay for the aftermath.
He emphasized that infrastructure belongs to all Americans, but accountability matters when allocating federal funds.

The Rest of The Story:

In a candid interview, Secretary Duffy detailed the DOT’s refusal to support infrastructure rebuilding in cities where officials allowed or promoted protests that led to destruction.

He specifically called out requests from the Twin Cities for funding to repair damage inflicted during the 2020 George Floyd riots.

“Why should the American taxpayer fund the damage that you all were celebrating?” Duffy asked, referring to Minnesota’s Democratic leadership.

He accused Gov. Tim Walz of siding with rioters, describing how Walz “opened up his windows so he could smell the smells of the rioters.”

While Duffy reiterated his broader commitment to national infrastructure, he made it clear that cities that enable chaos cannot expect a taxpayer-funded reset.

As I made clear with @Bennyjohnson, States and cities that allow anarchists to destroy their streets cannot expect @USDOT to cover the repairs. Full stop. pic.twitter.com/XndMuf77mP

— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) June 24, 2025

Commentary:

This is a long-overdue stand for basic accountability. When cities cheer on destruction or stand aside while radicals torch streets, they forfeit the right to demand a federal bailout.

Taxpayers in places like Oklahoma or Iowa shouldn’t have to bankroll the repair bills of leaders who allowed mob rule to take the wheel.

If your local government let anarchists smash curbs, burn bridges, and blockade roads—while refusing help from the National Guard—don’t come knocking with a tin cup.

Duffy’s position sends a clear message: federal grants aren’t a magic wand for cleaning up local political failure.

It also raises the question—what incentive do progressive mayors have to restore order if Uncle Sam always covers the tab?

Look at Minneapolis. In 2020, city leaders fanned the flames—literally—and then gutted their own police force.

Now, they want Washington to step in and patch things up. That’s not governance. That’s abdication.

And what about the rule of law? When cities openly refuse to protect public property, they’re not just tolerating disorder—they’re inviting it. You can’t wave the “equity” flag while your streets go up in smoke and expect middle America to pay for your virtue signaling.

This isn’t about red versus blue. It’s about responsible governance versus reckless showboating.

Duffy’s refusal to rubber-stamp those repair requests puts local leaders on notice: if you won’t protect your own roads, don’t expect a federal construction crew to roll in behind the rioters.

Federal funds should reward stewardship—not enable political theater.