Kalispell infrastructure projects moving ahead despite Trump’s funding freeze

Feb. 23—After a period of uncertainty, state and city officials say regional infrastructure projects are moving forward as scheduled despite President Donald Trump’s effort to freeze the federal spending undergirding them.

The president’s Jan. 20 executive order put an immediate pause on money being disbursed through two mammoth bills passed by Congress and signed into law by former President Joe Biden. The spending was to undergo review to ensure it aligned with the Trump administration’s policies, according to the order.

One of the two bills is the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, it set aside over $1 trillion for energy and infrastructure projects, which includes building roads, bridges and waterways.

While Trump’s executive order was held up by federal judges, confusion and concern spread across the country as communities that use the federal grants and loan programs established under the law were left in limbo, including Kalispell.

Several projects in and around the city have taken advantage of the federal dollars. Upgrading West Reserve Drive, replacing city water wells and lead service lines, and implementing traffic safety measures in downtown Kalispell are among the projects majorly funded through the Biden-era law. Other Flathead Valley projects receiving funding include building a new Sportsman’s Bridge and expanding Glacier Park International Airport’s terminal.

But despite the Trump administration’s effort to pause spending, progress is still underway, municipal officials said.

“We’re moving forward until we hear something,” said City Manager Doug Russell.

When the funding freeze was first enacted, city officials were left uncertain whether money from the infrastructure law would make it to two projects intended to rid the city’s water supply of harmful chemicals.

Funding for an $18 million replacement of two drinking water wells contaminated with PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, was held up at one point but later released, according to City Councilor Sid Daoud.

Public Works Director Susie Turner said state officials had informed her that the grant money was allocated to the state and will eventually flow into city coffers.

A spokesperson for the state Department of Environmental Quality, though, said the agency is awaiting direction from the federal government. The state department is in charge of dispersing the dollars, which are coming from the Environmental Protection Agency.

“We’re continuing to work on finalizing the contract while closely monitoring the federal funding situation and awaiting direction from federal partners,” said agency spokesperson Madison McGeffers.

Daoud said a federal loan, which the city applied for to cover the cost of replacing all lead and galvanized service lines in its water system, also got hung up.

But he remains optimistic, though he expects more temporary funding pauses to crop up.

“They’re just kind of getting off the ground with federal government efficiency and I expect it to come around again,” he said of the Trump administration.

The city also tapped into grants from the infrastructure law to launch its Main Street Safety Action Plan, which lays a framework for eliminating fatal and serious injury crashes in downtown Kalispell.

The city was awarded a $2.4 million grant from the same program in November 2024 to enact traffic calming measures on Oregon Street, which Russell said is still moving forward. The city intends to apply for more grants for traffic safety measures on downtown streets.

GLACIER PARK International Airport’s terminal expansion project is also moving along, but Director Rob Ratkowski said he is concerned that federal funding may cease.

“We just don’t have enough clarity on it yet to know if it would impact us or not.” Ratkowski said. “Today we haven’t seen any freeze in federal funds.”

Through two grant programs under the infrastructure law, the airport was allocated $19.3 million, with more available, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s website. Ratkowski said the airport fronts construction costs and is reimbursed by the federal government.

“We’ve got tens of millions of dollars of work still to do. So if that reimbursement, which the federal government already committed to doing, if that was paused, that would be problematic for us,” he said.

He plans to continue applying for more federal money for the airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration did not respond to a request for comment.

THE WIDENING of West Reserve Drive is continuing as scheduled, according to Joan Redeen, executive assistant for communications at the Montana Department of Transportation.

In 2023, the city received a $25 million grant from a program under the infrastructure law for the undertaking. The upgrades are aimed at curbing increased traffic along the thoroughfare and expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

Redeen called the federal freeze an evolving situation and said that the state agency is in close contact with the Federal Highway Administration “and other federal agencies in seeking guidance and more details as they become available,” she said.

The Sportsman’s Bridge replacement is also moving forward, according to Charity Burns, spokesperson for the state Department of Transporation. While the state agency has not yet reached a grant agreement with the Federal Highway Administration, they are unconcerned, Burns said.

“Indications at this time are that the funding is not at risk,” she said.

The nearly $48 million bridge replacement on Montana 82 in Bigfork is being largely funded through the infrastructure law.

GOV. GREG Gianforte and U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, all Republicans, have expressed support for Trump’s efforts to cut federal spending, but said they intend to make sure Montanans’ priorities are addressed.

Daines said in a statement that he supports ensuring “that Montanans’ taxpayer dollars are being used effectively.”

The senator is aware that projects in Montana could be affected by the freeze and is working closely with the White House on the state’s priorities, according to spokesperson Gabby Wiggins.

When asked about how the federal freeze could affect infrastructure projects and whether Sheehy is concerned, his office released a statement criticizing past government spending as unsustainable and a vow that Sheehy will restore fiscal responsibility in Washington, D.C.

A spokesperson for Gianforte said the governor has directed state agencies to determine how the federal spending pause might affect Montana.

“The governor’s budget office has asked state agencies to review programs subject to the freeze and exercise caution. The governor will continue to work with the federal delegation to ensure Montana’s priorities are heard,” said Kaitlin Price, Gianforte’s press secretary.

Congressman Ryan Zinke declined to weigh in on the freeze until it could be shown to have delayed local projects.

“It doesn’t make sense to hypothesize on something that may or may not be happening,” said Zinke’s Chief of Staff Heather Swift.

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 or junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.

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