On 16 September 2025 the Bundestag adopted the transport budget for the coming year in second reading. Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) will therefore have 38.29 billion euros at his disposal – almost six billion euros less than in 2024. The budget was approved by the CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary groups; the opposition voted against it in unison.
Investment budget despite cuts
With 23.72 billion euros for investments, the transport ministry remains the largest investment budget of the federal government. Revenues are expected to amount to 14.23 billion euros, of which 13.37 billion euros come from the truck toll (2024: 15.14 billion). Despite slight cuts in expenditures, the coalition points to long-term substantial funding: By
2029 investments of 166 billion euros for all transport modes would be possible.
Roads, rails, waterways
The federal trunk roads will receive 10.82 billion euros, significantly less than the previous year. For planning, construction, maintenance and operation, 9.39 billion euros are available. For the federal railways, the appropriation falls from 16.4 to 12.6 billion euros. At the same time, the equity of Deutsche Bahn AG is to be increased by 8.48 billion euros (2024: 5.5 billion euros), supplemented by loans of three billion euros. The federal waterways are funded with 1.99 billion euros (2024: 1.77 billion euros). In municipalities, two billion euros are to flow into improving traffic conditions – twice as much as in
2024.
Controversy over the Special Fund
Central point of contention in the debate was the Special Fund “Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality.” It provides an additional 11.71 billion euros for investments, but there is dispute over its distribution.
The Greens see it as a growing risk. MP Paula Piechotta warned that the fund’s 300 billion euros could “crumble under the weight of political interests.” Debts without tangible value burden future generations and leave current growth opportunities untapped.
The Left criticized that investments in rail, roads and digital infrastructure were increasingly outsourced from the core budget. Sascha Wagner spoke of a “lack of a reliable basis” for financing public infrastructure. Special funds could help in the short
term but are not suitable for securing long-term structures.
Coalition emphasizes planning certainty
The government factions defended the decision. The CSU MP Florian Oßner emphasized:
“All transport modes are needed. The time when these were pitted against each other should be over for good.”
He spoke of record investments that would strengthen Germany in the coming years. SPD representative Uwe Schmidt called for accelerating the procedures:
“We have to stop making every procurement lawyer happy, but rather solve the problems.”
The Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Ulrich Lange (CSU), described the budget as “a budget with perspective and planning certainty.” It offers reliability to the construction industry and sets impulses for future
