GOP leaders rejecting Democrat efforts to tie Francis Scott Key Bridge funding to FAA bill

Republican congressional leaders are rejecting a Democratic effort to connect federal funding for rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge to the Federal Aviation Administration authorization bill.

Conservative lawmakers in the House Freedom Caucus have also said any funding for the bridge should be fully paid for with spending reductions elsewhere, rather than borrowing to fund the project.

A senior GOP congressional source confirmed that House GOP leaders are against the attempt to tie the bridge funding to the FAA bill but the path forward on the issue has not been determined. 

The White House hasn't requested a specific amount from Congress for the bridge yet President Biden has declared that Congress will foot the bill for rebuilding it.

Despite not receiving a funding request for the bridge, some Democrat lawmakers have already introduced a bill to guarantee fully funding the rebuilding of the bridge.

It is also unclear if the Maryland state government is going to try recouping some of the costs from the operator of the ship that crashed into the bridge, killing 6 workers.