General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCompiled via Google Search, what could be built with $10 billion, versus giving it to Trump to settle his IRS "lawsuit"
I was thinking "OK, what could the government do with $10 billion if they didn't give it to Trump, so here are the search results.
AI Overview
A $10 billion investment in government projects is typically directed toward "megaprojects"large-scale, complex infrastructure initiatives that span multiple years and often involve partnerships between federal, state, and private entities.
Based on recent U.S. federal, state, and private sector activity, $10 billion could fund the following projects:
1. Transportation & Infrastructure (Megaprojects)
Bridge & Highway Replacement: Funding for massive, long-stalled, or critical bridge replacements. Examples include the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) over the Columbia River (Oregon/Washington) or the I-45 North Houston Highway Improvement Project ($9.7 billion), which adds lanes, improves pedestrian/bike trails, and redesigns urban highway systems.
High-Speed Rail Networks: A $10 billion, 200 mph train project connecting major cities, similar in scope to the Brightline West project planned between Southern California and Las Vegas.
Airport Upgrades: Large-scale, multibillion-dollar expansions of major international airports (e.g., modernizing terminals at JFK, which has a $18 billion total project budget).
Rail & Tunnel Projects: The Gateway Project, which involves building new tunnels beneath the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, has a $16 billion total tag but is being funded through similar-sized federal installments.
2. Digital Infrastructure & Technology
Broadband Expansion: A $10 billion investment can significantly overhaul digital connectivity, such as the U.S. Treasurys Capital Projects Fund (CPF), which provides $10 billion to states, territories, and tribes for broadband infrastructure to reach over two million locations.
Artificial Intelligence Ecosystems: Developing sovereign AI data centers, such as a planned $10 billion AI data center complex aimed at supporting national infrastructure for energy grids, defense, and health.
3. Energy & Environmental Resilience
Grid Modernization: A $10 billion investment in upgrading the national electricity grid to improve resilience against natural disasters, such as the Department of Energys Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program.
Strategic Mineral Reserves: A $10 billion loan (like the proposed Project Vault) to launch a strategic critical minerals stockpile, reducing dependency on foreign, particularly Chinese, suppliers for materials vital to electric vehicles, defense systems, and advanced technology.
Orphan Well Cleanup: A $10 billion investment to plug abandoned oil and gas wells, which helps to reduce methane emissions and remediate environmental damage.
4. Education & Community Development
Public School Capital Improvements: A state-level $10 billion investment can fund major, long-term public school construction and renovation projects.
Community Facility Upgrades: Investment in building or improving multi-purpose community centers for digital access, education, and health monitoring.
5. Research & Industrial Development
R&D Complexes: A $10 billion partnership, such as the one for the NY CREATES Albany Nanotech Complex, can bring next-generation research and development centers to a region.
High-Tech AI Campus: A $10 billion investment in a high-tech cloud computing and AI innovation campus, similar to the project planned for North Carolina by Amazon Web Services.
Torchlight
(6,529 posts)That's the equivalent of providing every person in Texas two meals a day for about two and half weeks. Mr. trump wants to blow it on buying pre-teens, ballrooms and designer diapers.
