By MARY BURKE, HOLLIDAY WOODARD and PETER RICCIO

Capital News Service

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration on Friday warned Maryland officials not to award contracts based on sex and race in the reconstruction of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.

“Any reliance on race- or sex-conscious factors in contracting decisions could introduce significant legal vulnerabilities and inefficiencies in the management of the project,” Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said in a letter to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Friday.

The secretary criticized the project’s work plan, arguing that Moore has “prioritized race and gender-based requirements ahead of project completion.”

Democrats in the Maryland congressional delegation responded in a joint statement, noting the bridge project was appr

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