Department of Transportation

DOT funds the nation's transportation infrastructure — highways, bridges, airports, transit systems, and rail — largely through the Highway Trust Fund, which is financed by the federal gas tax (unchanged at 18.4 cents per gallon since 1993). The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided a historic $550 billion in new spending over five years, significantly boosting DOT's budget. The department also includes the FAA (air traffic control and aviation safety), NHTSA (vehicle safety standards), and the Federal Railroad Administration.