Federal transportation officials have systematically removed or edited numerous pages of safety materials from the Federal Highway Administration’s website over the past week, according to analysis of archived web pages and internal agency communications obtained by news outlets.
The removals appear to stem from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s recent statement opposing what he characterized as “DEI bike lanes.” In early July, the FHWA’s safety office sent an urgent directive to staff instructing them to remove references to bike lanes, speed cameras, and related speed-reduction strategies from the agency’s list of “Proven Safety Countermeasures.” Among the resources removed was the Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool, a specialized instrument designed to analyze crash data involving cars, bicycles, and pedestrians to help develop injury-prevention strategies.
DOT officials defended the changes as a review of federal guidance to better reflect transportation priorities, noting that approximately 80 percent of Americans use cars for work and medical appointments. However, a DOT spokesperson’s statement included criticism of what was characterized as a “phony climate agenda,” suggesting ideological motivations beyond standard policy review.
Safety researchers and advocates have expressed concern about the removal of evidence-based tools and resources. David Harkey, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, stated that removing proven safety resources contradicts the agency’s stated commitment to prioritizing safety. He noted that more than 36,000 people were killed on U.S. roads in the previous year, with over 6,700 deaths involving pedestrians and bicyclists. Harkey also referenced a separate critical safety database that was removed 18 months ago and remains unavailable, suggesting a pattern of removals without clear timelines for restoration.
DOT has not provided specific criteria for the review or timeline for potential reinstatement of removed materials. An anonymous DOT web support employee questioned the rationale for removing long-standing safety resources, while safety advocates noted that shifting funding priorities between administrations is normal, but removing evidence-based safety information from public websites raises distinct concerns.
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