In the Omnibus budget bill Congress also appropriated significant additional rail fundifor safety, state of good repair projects, the NEC, and even a bit more for Amtrak long distance, than the Administration request.

Many of these funds appear to be "going nowhere" right now. But one of the partial reasons for that maybe due to the failure to recruit experienced and qualified policy staff to fill many of the appointed positions at DOT (as well as many other Departments). Another reason has been a lack of programming staff at FRA, which has been a serious problem with the HSIPR funds, as well, even under 's folks.

I was around when Nixon illegally "impounded" Congressionally appropriated funds. But, as yet, I have not seen any evidence to confirm something like that, as yet though. Of course, some kind of nonsense like that would come as absolutely no surprise to me, either.....