illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece in The Washington Post or enjoy below 

🗞️ Driving the news: The new U.S. infrastructure law designed to enhance environmental safeguarding and mitigate carbon emissions on highways is witnessing substantial funds rerouted towards routine highway construction
• Federal Highway Administration documents reveal that roughly $755 million was reallocated last year (more than ¼ of annual climate-centric initiative budget)
• States like California and New York have moved $97 million and $36 million respectively 

🔭 The context: The Infrastructure law of 2021 was formulated with bipartisan support
• However, the flexibility of states to use federal highway funding has impeded efforts by Democrats and the Biden administration to make environmental strides
• The diversion of funds from climate initiatives, despite escalating weather phenomena, underscores the substantial discretion states have to bypass federal objectives

🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: The trend of funds being diverted away from their climate-centered purpose shows a fundamental tension in implementing the 2021 law and realizing its environmental goals

⏭️ What's next: Several states report that they are in the process of formulating plans on how to utilize these funds, with some blaming slow guidance for their inability to act faster

💬 One quote: "The Biden Administration recognizes climate change as a crisis facing our nation and has adopted a whole of government response, which has already meant critical new investments in carbon emissions reduction and resiliency in all elements of our nation’s infrastructure” (Shailen Bhatt, Administrator of FHWA)

Click for more news covering the latest on environmental sustainability