Camila Fonseca-Sarmiento, director of fiscal research at the Institute for Urban and Regional Infrastructure Finance (IURIF), is chief researcher on a new report series, “Meeting the Trillion-Dollar Challenge,” published by the Volcker Alliance, which warns of a $1 trillion infrastructure maintenance gap in states across the country. 

The reports aim to help quantify infrastructure maintenance gaps and improve practices to close these funding gaps. The researchers found that maintenance gaps are a result of the White House and Congress reducing programs and funding that help upkeep infrastructure in favor of more pressing spending needs. 

The “Meeting the Trillion-Dollar Challenge” is a series of three reports: a case studies report, a 50-state review, and a tool kit. The Volcker Alliance concluded that If deferred maintenance continues, it may compromise the ability of states, counties, and cities to deliver critical services to their citizens.