Baltimore Bridge Reconstruction Now Depends On Congress

President Joe Biden said the Francis Scott Key Bridge needs to be rebuilt “as soon as humanly possible.”

Maryland Bridge Collapse AP-24086537421629

A ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning. Mark Schiefelbein/AP

President Joe Biden urged Congress to approve funding to quickly rebuild a major Baltimore bridge Tuesday after it collapsed in the early morning.

“It’s my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge. And I expect the Congress to support my effort,” the president said in a press conference hours after a ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse.

Congress, which has struggled to approve other funding measures this year, is currently in the middle of a two-week recess. Interest in taking immediate action on Biden’s request remains unclear. House leadership did not immediately respond to a request for comment.