A Trump administration order to pause federal spending on Tuesday led to bureaucratic bedlam in Rhode Island and across the country as state government officials tried to assess the local impact of suddenly turning off federal spigots.

State DOT Director Alviti said the executive orders would halt only “Green New Deal” projects, not the bridge work.

"These grants include over $220 million for the Interstate-195 Washington Bridge, which has been partially closed since December 2023 due to a catastrophic failure, and more than $250 million to address 15 bridges along Rhode Island’s busy I-95 corridor,