Biden says federal government will fund Baltimore bridge rebuild

U.S. President Joe Biden arrives to speak about on the ongoing response to the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 26, 2024. REUTERS/Craig Hudson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden pledged that the federal government will pay the full cost to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, one of the nation's busiest arteries that collapsed hours earlier on Tuesday after being struck by a massive freight ship.

“It's my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge and I expect the Congress to support my effort," Biden said, speaking from the White House ahead of a trip to North Carolina.