National vs. Federal

Anyone who grew up reciting the pledge of allegiance* can reasonably be expected to be outraged, but a couple of books suggest that it's nonsensical to speak of an American "nation":

• Albion's Seed
• The Nine Nations of North America
• American Nations

Hence the use of the term "National" as a synonym for "Federal" strikes me as awkward. In an originalist sense, the term "The United States of America" reflected a political claim of a military alliance, a sort of echo of the "Union of Utrecht" and later "United Provinces", but the actual governmental structure of the United states is a federation: "a group of states with a central government but independence in internal affairs". 

To speak of a nation is to speak of a collective national identity based on shared language, history, ethnicity, territory and society. Which is, at best, partially true. Hence, to speak of a "National Transportation Plan Goals" seems awry -- the entity providing the planning goals is not a 'nation'. But 'nation' has a more patriotic tone to it, because it implies a sense of collective identity, but also of shared burden: everyone labors under the same requirements. 

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.