Air travel and rail transport were early examples of deregulation bringing huge benefits to consumers and industries. Yet automobility, air travel, and freight rail, are increasingly threatened with further regulation that will reduce their ability to transport goods and people. CEI opposes these attacks by arguing for greater freedom in mobility and opposing perverse transportation industry regulations.
Transportation Issue Areas
Featured Posts

Blog
CEI suggests DOT put the brakes on train two-person crew rule
The Transportation Department recently asked the public for comments on how to reduce the regulatory burden. One thought that the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI)…
Citation
Transportation Security Agency workers in Illinois, elsewhere lose union
Competitive Enterprise Institute labor policy expert Sean Higgins said the agency claimed there were problems of waste and abuse with the practice…

News Release
Transportation Sec Sean Duffy announces immediate review of CAFE standards: CEI analysis
CEI applauds U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for directing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to commence an immediate review and reconsideration of all…
Search Posts
Comment
Petition for Rulemaking on TSA Laptop Ban
View Full Document as PDF Dear Counsel: This is a rulemaking petition requesting that Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Transportation Security Administration…
Blog
CEI Leads Coalition Supporting DeFazio-Massie PFC Uncap Bill
Today, a coalition of free market groups sent a joint letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leadership urging them to support the “Investing…
Letters
CEI Leads Coalition Letter in Support of Rebuilding America’s Airports Infrastructure Act (H.R. 1265)
View Full Document as PDF Dear Chairmen Shuster and LoBiondo and Ranking Members DeFazio and Larsen: We write today in strong support…
The Hill
Why Does Air Travel Seem So Miserable?
The Hill discusses recent changes in the consumer experience of flying with Marc Scribner. Bloodied passengers getting dragged off flights. Airport brawls. Shrinking…
Letters
CEI Joins Coalition Letter Urging Responsibility in Upcoming Transportation and Infrastructure Spending
View Full Document as PDF Dear Senators and Representatives: On behalf of our organizations and the millions of Americans we represent, we…
Blog
Technology and Process Failures at TSA
The Transportation Security Administration has a history of tripping over itself to rush out technologies that are ill-considered and invasive.
Blog
California’s Proposed Automated Vehicle Regulations under Fire
Unless they cease attempting to involve their state in matters of federal responsibility, California’s politicians and bureaucrats will have blood on their hands.
Comment
CEI Comments to the California DMV on Autonomous Vehicle Regulations
View Full Document as PDF Dear Mr. Soublet, On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (“CEI”), I respectfully submit these comments in…
Law360
United Airlines Incident Highlights Limited Consumer Rights
Law360 discusses a United Airlines poor customer service incident with Marc Scribner. “It was clearly an example of really bad customer service on…
Law360
Amtrak Chases Priority Track After Regulatory Power Axed
Law360 discusses a federal statute that allows Amtrack to set performance and scheduling standards with Marc Scribner. “This court saw it correctly that…
Automotive News
Federal V2V Mandate Meets Growing Resistance
Automotive News discusses the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s proposed vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology mandate with Marc Scribner. The failure to consider alternative technologies…
Bloomberg
Talking-Car Safety Mandate Hits Unexpected Pothole Of Opposition
Bloomberg discusses the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s proposed vehicle-to-vehicle communication mandate with Marc Scribner. The failure to consider alternative technologies is a…
Blog
In Wake of United Debacle, Give Airlines – and Travelers – More Flexibility
Most of the time it’s actually government policies that end up ruining a traveler’s day.
Los Angeles Times
Let Richard Branson Kill United Airlines
Los Angeles Times highlights Marc Scribner’s comments on how government policy has lead to poor airline service. Yes, airlines on the continent come…
Blog
CEI Submits Comments on Proposed Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications Mandate
Last week, CEI and a coalition of free-market organizations sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao asking her to temporarily suspend the current…
The Hill
Norquist Warns GOP: Don’t Link Taxes, Infrastructure
The Hill discusses with Marc Scribner coupling President Trump’s infrastructure plan with tax reform. Coupling Trump’s rebuilding plan with tax reform will only…
Comment
CEI Comments to NHTSA on Vehicle to Vehicle Communications
View Full Document as PDF On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (“CEI”), I respectfully submit these comments in response to the…
Blog
Want Better Airline Service? Deregulate to Enhance Competition
If American consumers wish to enjoy improved service quality in air travel, they should demand that Congress repeal 90 years of anti-competitive federal law.
Politico
The Complicated Status of Trump, Congress and Infrastructure
Politico’s Morning Transportation highlights CEI’s legal challenge of the Department of Transportation’s ban on electronic cigarette usage on airplanes. HOLY SMOKES: With the…
Letters
CEI Leads Coalition Letter Urging Department of Transportation to Suspend Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications Rulemaking
View Full Document as PDF Dear Secretary Chao: We write to you today to express our concern about a pending rulemaking before…
Blog
White House Reiterates Support for Air Traffic Control Reform
It’s time for members of Congress to set aside their petty differences and get to work on something truly transformative.
The Hill
Judge rail industry by performance, not processes
The Hill speaks with Marc Scribner on performance-based regulation as an alternative to inflexible standards for freight rail. As one example, the agency…
Blog
Transportation Safety Best Ensured by Performance Goals, Not Micromanaging
Transportation safety is a top priority in America, whether it’s passenger travel by air, rail, or vehicle or moving commercial freight where it needs to…
News Release
Report: Transportation Safety Gains Held Back By Red Tape
Transportation safety is a top priority, but future safety gains are held back by government red tape that stifles innovation and improvement, according to a…
Daily Caller
Report: Google Forced To Put Mirrors On Self-Driving Cars
The Daily Caller speaks with Marc Scribner on regulators improving transportation safety with safety performance goals rather than stifling red tape. Self-driving autos…
Politico
Trump signs order to end ‘crushing attack’ of Obama climate legacy
Politico discusses with Myron Ebell President Trump’s executive order to reverse some of the Obama administration’s climate change policies. But Trump has not ordered…
Study
Toward Performance-Based Transportation Safety Regulation
View Full Document as PDF Businesses and entrepreneurs have long complained about having to comply with unnecessarily rigid regulations that stress adherence…
The Hill
Trump jumps into air traffic control fight
The Hill discusses air traffic control reform with Marc Scribner. Another way Trump could be helpful, according to advocates of the spinoff plan,…
Wall Street Journal
For a Cost of Only $16 per Californian . . .
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) writes that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s decision to defer a $647 million federal grant for Caltrain electrification was “foolhardy”…
Blog
White House Budget Embraces Air Traffic Control Reform
The Trump administration proposes a 12.7 percent decrease in Department of Transportation spending. The most important cut is the administration’s embrace of air traffic control…
News Release
Trump White House Transportation Budget Earns CEI Praise on Air Traffic Control Reform
The White House this morning released its 2018 budget blueprint, which features a 12.7 percent decrease in Department of Transportation spending and reforms to the…
Blog
California’s Proposed Autonomous Vehicle Rules Could Be Improved
The California Department of Motor Vehicles published its proposed testing and deployment rules for automated vehicles.
Blog
Right and Wrong on Air Traffic Control Reform
Objections to privatizing the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Air Traffic Organization contradict conservative principles or else have previously been debunked.
Blog
Improve Infrastructure Projects with Financing and Regulatory Reform
Financing and regulatory reform can help public and private investors get the most bang for their buck out of major new infrastructure projects.
Politico
What now for infrastructure?: Nope, he’s not done
Politico’s Morning Transportation highlights Marc Scribner’s comments on a passenger facility charge bill. On top of all that, DeFazio introduced a bill Wednesday…
Blog
Reps. DeFazio, Massie Introduce Smart Financing Legislation for Airports
New legislation from Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) would improve the ability of airports to finance improvements to their facilities.
News Release
CEI Comments on President Trump’s Joint-Session Address to Congress
On February 28, 2017, President Donald J. Trump addressed a joint session of Congress. His speech reviewed the new administration’s recent initiatives and announced ways in which the White…
Washington Post
Last night, conservatives gave up on conservatism
The Washington Post discusses President Trump’s policy proposals from his address to a joint session of Congress with CEI President Kent Lassman. The…
Blog
Trump’s Address a Mixed Bag on Transportation and Infrastructure
President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress, delivering a speech outlining many of his administration’s policy priorities and presenting a mixed bag for…
Blog
Policy Background on Trump’s Joint-Session Address to Congress
Here are five areas where the administration has the opportunity to implement valuable and much-needed reforms for the American people.
Blog
EPA Urged to Reconsider Last-Minute Obama Mileage Rules
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers petitioned Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt this week to re-evaluate greenhouse gas emission standards for new cars that were…
Inside Unmanned Systems
Nevada Bill Calls for Legalization of Self-Driving Cars
Inside Unmanned Systems discusses with Marc Scribner a proposed bill in Nevada that updates existing state traffic laws that would spur driverless vehicle testing. …
The Hill
Groups revive debate over passenger fees for airport upgrades
The Hill discusses the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) with Marc Scribner. But funding offsets for infrastructure upgrades have long remained elusive. The PFC…
Reason.com
Bad News: The Government Wants to ‘Help’ Driverless Car Companies
Reason.com discusses with Marc Scribner the U.S. Department of Transportation’s proposed rules on vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Plus, as Competitive Enterprise Institute researcher Marc Scribner…
Blog
Five Regulatory Heartbreaks on Valentine’s Day
Tomorrow we celebrate our significant other by showering them with affection and chocolate—but is government regulation getting in the way of your date night?…
Bloomberg BNA
Regulatory Chill May Pivot Connected Vehicle Tech’s Course
Bloomberg BNA discusses Department of Transportation’s proposed rule on vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology with Marc Scribner. “It sounded a lot better 10, 15 years ago…
Blog
Responding to More Distortions of Air Traffic Control Reform
Free-market transportation researchers strongly support the air traffic control reform.
Blog
Trump Not Bound by Obama Volkswagen Settlement with EPA
The judicial settlement which was reached between Volkswagen and the U.S. Department of Justice last October infringes on President Trump’s Article II authority.
Blog
White House Should Revisit Volkswagen Settlement with EPA
A coalition of free-market groups ask President Trump to investigate the VW emissions settlement with the EPA.
Bloomberg BNA
Will Border Wall Bring Construction Jobs?
Bloomberg BNA discusses with Marc Scribner Trump’s executive order to construct a physical border. Trump signed an executive order indicating that it is…