Overland Park Accepts Federal Traffic Grant Amid ICE and DEI Fears

(OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS) Overland Park accepted a $500,000 federal traffic safety grant this month, moving ahead with street safety projects while facing new federal terms that tie funding to immigration enforcement and limits on DEI programs. The City Council approved the grant on September 8, 2025, following a packed public meeting where many residents urged leaders to decline the money or replace it with local funds. The grant—part of the national Safe Streets For All program—had been delayed for months by a federal freeze and was released with conditions from President Trump’s administration requiring cooperation with ICE and compliance with executive orders restricting DEI in federally funded projects.

City officials say local policy will not change. City Manager Lori Curtis Luther and City Attorney Michael Koss told residents the city can take the funds and still keep current practices. “There will be no change in our interactions with ICE. There will be no change to our policies with diversity, equity and inclusion,” they said at the meeting. Koss also noted that cities have legal options if federal officials try to reclaim funds because of alleged noncompliance. The grant agreement runs 77 pages and lays out both street safety steps and the new federal terms.

Funding, Scope, and Project Management

The city plans to spend the award on traffic-calming demonstration projects, including speed cushions on collector streets where neighbors report frequent speeding. The total project cost is $625,000, with Overland Park and the Kansas Department of Transportation covering the remainder.

• Federal award: $500,000 (Safe Streets For All)
• Total project cost: $625,000
• Local/state match: Overland Park + Kansas Department of Transportation
• Grant document length: 77 pages

The Public Works Department will manage design, installation, and evaluation, tracking outcomes such as speeds, crashes, and public feedback. Funding comes through Safe Streets For All, a five-year federal initiative created under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to reduce deaths and injuries on U.S. roads. The program’s FY2025 application window closed on June 26, 2025. Kansas transportation officials continue to support local safety projects through the state match pilot tied to the federal program.

Policy Terms Attached to Federal Funds

The new federal conditions attached to the Safe Streets For All grant require recipients to:

• Cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• Comply with new limits or bans on DEI initiatives in projects funded with federal dollars.

City Attorney Michael Koss told residents that if the federal government later claims noncompliance and tries to pull funds, the city could “pursue legal remedies.” That stance reflects a larger legal debate about the reach of executive orders on local programs. Overland Park leaders say they will monitor federal oversight while continuing the project. The city’s message: the grant will not trigger changes to local policing or community engagement, and the traffic work will proceed.

“There will be no change in our interactions with ICE. There will be no change to our policies with diversity, equity and inclusion.” — City officials

Local Response and Concerns

Residents who spoke during public comment expressed deep worry that ICE conditions could frighten immigrant families and that anti-DEI rules could pressure local bodies to drop inclusive practices. Speakers including Erin Atherton and Greer Banks called the terms “dangerous and hypocritical” and urged the Council to walk away from federal money that they said conflicts with Overland Park’s values.

Community groups that back DEI also warned that federal restrictions could slow or reverse local progress on inclusion and fair access to services. Many speakers supported the street safety goals but insisted the city should fund them without accepting limits they view as harmful.

Concerns raised by residents included:

• A chilling effect on immigrant families (fewer reports of unsafe driving, fewer witnesses at crashes, lower public meeting attendance).
• Pressure on hiring, training, or outreach methods to avoid DEI conflicts.
• Possible edits to city communications to meet federal rules.
• Fear that federal requests for data or access could target community members.

City officials said the agreement does not require local policy changes and that practices will continue, while acknowledging the need to stay alert to any federal enforcement move.

Implementation, Monitoring, and Community Engagement

For families in Overland Park, the immediate effect is physical: speed cushions, lane design changes, and other low-cost features meant to slow vehicles and prevent crashes. The Public Works Department will:

1. Set timelines for installation.
2. Manage design and contractor work.
3. Track outcomes (speeds, crashes, public feedback).
4. Report to federal and state partners, including KDOT.

The state’s match program remains in place, per Kansas Department of Transportation information. The core street safety mission of Safe Streets For All remains: reduce deaths and injuries and test designs that can be scaled citywide if they work.

The city says it will host open houses and share project maps, timelines, and findings. Advocates plan to push for clear public messages that the grant does not change city contact with immigration authorities and that any federal requests for data will go through legal channels.

Legal Stakes and Broader Implications

Legal questions remain. If federal officials assert that a city’s outreach or workforce programs qualify as DEI under the restricted rules, municipalities could face funding threats or audits. Michael Koss’s comment about legal remedies signals that Overland Park is prepared to defend its stance in court if needed. Potential legal responses could include arguing that:

• Federal terms, as applied, exceed the grant’s scope.
• Conditioning funds in this way violates limits on executive authority or statutory constraints.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, similar conditions have sparked tension in other cities as local leaders weigh urgent infrastructure needs against new federal compliance demands. Policy experts note that these conditions could shape how cities across the United States approach federal funding tied to immigration enforcement and DEI rules.

Practical picture: near-term traffic calming visible to residents, and longer-term policy friction that may end up in court or Congress.

Political Context

The political backdrop adds heat. President Trump’s return to the White House in 2025 brought executive orders aimed at increasing immigration enforcement and limiting DEI in federally funded activities. Those orders now affect a traffic grant that began under President Biden’s infrastructure plan. This shift in federal priorities complicates multi-year local planning and could set a precedent for adding immigration and DEI tests to other grants, including housing and public health.

What Comes Next

For now, Overland Park has decided to move forward. The approach is to test, measure, and adjust:

• If speed cushions reduce speeds and crashes, the city may expand the design to similar streets.
• If they don’t, staff will try other tools (lane narrowing, visibility features at crossings).

City staff will report back to the Council if federal enforcement activity tied to the grant emerges. The first speed cushions will be a small but visible sign of the city’s promise to pursue road safety while maintaining local DEI and ICE policies.

Resources and Where to Follow Updates

Official resources:
– Overland Park City Government: opkansas.org
– Kansas Department of Transportation SS4A Match Pilot: ksdot.gov/programs/safety-programs/safe-streets-and-roads-for-all-match-pilot-program
– Johnson County DEI Coalition: jocogov.org/department/board-county-commissioners/johnson-county-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-coalition

City officials say they will keep residents informed as projects start and as the federal picture evolves. For families driving to school, workers crossing busy corridors, and elders walking to services, the measure of success will be safer streets without sacrificing local policy. The bigger test—whether Overland Park can accept Safe Streets For All funds while holding its ground on DEI and its ICE approach—will play out over the months ahead.