The Trump administration has escalated its opposition to cycling infrastructure, revoking federal grants it labels as "D. E. I. bike lanes." Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy argues bike lanes cause congestion and longer travel times.

The rhetoric frames cycling as a liberal ideal, contrasting it with conservative values. Critics deem the attacks politically motivated and out of touch with public opinion. A 2025 YouGov poll found 76 percent of Americans support local bike lanes, including 66 percent of Republicans.

Despite political pushback, bike infrastructure has expanded rapidly, with 4,400 directional miles of protected lanes today, up from 108 in 2000. The administration has targeted specific projects, freezing a $9.3 million grant for Nashville's East Nashville Spokes project and ordering the removal of the 15th Street bike lane in Washington, D. C., though a judge temporarily blocked the demolition.

In Fairfield, Alabama, an $11.7 million grant for a bike and walking path serving a majority-Black community of 9,500 was canceled, leaving the mayor confused. Advocates note the irony of dismantling infrastructure that enjoys bipartisan history, dating back to Ronald Reagan's 1967 signing allowing bicycle lanes.