DOT Multimodal Freight Office Has Not Reported to Congress Since 2023
Summary
GAO published report GAO-26-108554 finding that the Department of Transportation's Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy has not met its statutory requirement to periodically report to Congress since 2023. The Office, established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, has taken steps toward meeting most statutory requirements but lacks sufficient staff to complete all obligations. GAO recommends DOT report to Congress on the Office's activities including programs, grants, and staffing levels since September 2023. DOT agreed with the recommendation.
What changed
GAO's audit examined DOT's progress in meeting statutory requirements for the Multimodal Freight Office established by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The report found DOT has made progress on most requirements including developing the National Freight Strategic Plan and National Multimodal Freight Network. However, DOT has not completed periodic reporting to Congress on Office activities since 2023, citing limited staff and focus on other priorities. GAO made one recommendation for DOT to report to Congress on Office activities, grants administered, and staffing levels since September 2023. DOT agreed with this recommendation.
The implications for affected parties are limited since this audit targets a government agency rather than private industry. Freight transportation industry stakeholders who interact with the Multimodal Freight Office as a single point of contact for freight-related issues may benefit from increased congressional oversight, which could inform future surface transportation reauthorization legislation and freight policy decisions.
Archived snapshot
Apr 20, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
GAO-26-108554 Published: Apr 20, 2026. Publicly Released: Apr 20, 2026.
Fast Facts
Reliable, timely freight transportation is vital to the U.S. economy. In 2024, 20 billion tons of freight moved over a large, interconnected network of roads, rail, waterways, pipelines, and airways.
A 2021 law created an office in the Department of Transportation to help improve freight mobility. Among other things, the law required the office to update the National Freight Strategic Plan—which it's doing. But DOT hasn't reported on the office's activities to Congress since 2023.
We recommended DOT do so to ensure Congress has the information it needs to make decisions about the office.
Freight Containers That Can Be Used on Multiple Modes of Transportation
Freight container being loaded onto a train car
Highlights
What GAO Found
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) required the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish the Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy (Multimodal Freight Office, or Office). Its responsibilities include coordinating with other agencies, states, and the private sector; assisting cities and states to improve freight mobility; and carrying out the goals of the national multimodal freight policy.
The IIJA directs the Multimodal Freight Office to administer certain policies and programs, such as developing and managing the National Freight Strategic Plan and the National Multimodal Freight Network, which connects highways, railroads, and maritime routes. DOT has taken steps toward meeting almost all of its statutory requirements. For example, DOT plans to release an updated National Freight Strategic Plan in 2026 and is updating the National Multimodal Freight Network.
U.S. National Multimodal Freight Network
DOT has not completed one of the office’s statutory requirements–periodically reporting to Congress on the activities of the Multimodal Freight Office. Officials stated that the Office had not done so because it had limited staff and was focused on other activities. While the Office briefed congressional staff in 2023, without periodic reporting, Congress has limited visibility into the activities the Office has conducted since then. Having recent information is important as Congress considers how the Office could support federal surface transportation programs, and any potential legislation related to the upcoming reauthorization.
To prevent potential duplication when forming the Multimodal Freight Office, DOT formed a task force in 2023 to review multimodal freight responsibilities across the department. The task force established complementary roles between the office and other DOT administrations, according to DOT officials. DOT officials and transportation industry associations GAO met with said they found the Office helpful as a single point of contact able to respond to freight-related incidents and could help address freight issues, such as the nationwide shortage of truck parking for commercial drivers.
Why GAO Did This Study
The U.S. freight transportation network is vital to the nation, moving over 20 billion tons of freight in 2024 over an extensive, interconnected network. DOT is responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable movement of freight over this network. The IIJA included a provision for GAO to review the activities of the Multimodal Freight Office.
This report examines (1) the progress DOT has made in meeting its statutory requirements related to the Multimodal Freight Office and (2) how DOT identified and managed any areas of duplication and improved efficiency for freight issues across the department when establishing the Multimodal Freight Office.
GAO interviewed DOT officials on steps taken toward meeting the statutory requirements. GAO analyzed internal DOT documents on the agency’s activities to manage any duplication and improve efficiency in multimodal freight efforts when establishing the Multimodal Freight Office. GAO also interviewed DOT operating administration officials; four stakeholders from the trucking, railroad, air, and maritime freight transportation industries; and one state transportation association on their views on activities of the office. GAO selected these stakeholders, as they represent the major modes of freight transportation in the U.S., per DOT’s draft National Multimodal Freight Network.
Recommendations
GAO is making one recommendation for DOT to report to Congress with updates on the activities of the Multimodal Freight Office. DOT agreed with the recommendation.
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should report to Congress on the activities of the Multimodal Freight Office since September 2023, including updates of descriptions of the programs and activities administered or overseen by the Office, such as freight-related grants, and current and future staffing levels. (Recommendation 1) | Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information. |
Full Report
GAO Contacts
Elizabeth (Biza) Repko Director Physical Infrastructure repkoe@gao.gov
Media Inquiries
Sarah Kaczmarek Managing Director Office of Public Affairs media@gao.gov
Public Inquiries
Topics
Transportation Freight Transportation Grant programs Freight transportation Transportation statistics Strategic plan Public roads or highways Industrial productivity Rail Logistics
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