For subscribers

In Baltimore, Biden can show how to build back faster

The Francis Scott Key Bridge will not be rebuilt as fast as Philadelphia’s collapsed highway was in 2023, but the White House can speed up the process.

US President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, from the White House in Washington, on March 26.

PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Matthew Yglesias

Follow topic:

When it comes to the crises spawned by

the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge

, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he is “giving it everything I’ve got”. That’s good to hear, but it may take more than that.

Rebuilding the bridge

is expected to be an extremely slow process,

largely because building almost anything in the United States is an extremely slow process. And that’s where the country could use not a transportation policy expert (which Mr Buttigieg is not) but a smart, hard-working politician (which Mr Buttigieg is) who sees that the public is deeply sceptical – with some good reason – that any of President Joe Biden’s grand dreams for American renewal can become reality in a country covered in red tape.

In Baltimore, Biden can show how to build back faster

Follow topic:

See more on