Federal judge reverses Trump’s freeze on $16bn for NY-NJ tunnel project | New York
A federal judge has reversed a freeze on $16 billion in funding provided by Donald Trump for improved rail links connecting New York and New Jersey, amid reports that the US president wants major travel destinations to be named after him in exchange for continued investment.
The Gateway Project will build a new commuter rail tunnel between Manhattan and New Jersey under the Hudson River on New York City’s west side and repair a century-old tunnel used by more than 200,000 passengers and 425 trains per day.
The existing River tunnel was heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and is in frequent need of emergency repairs, disrupting travel on the nation’s most heavily used passenger rail line.
U.S. district judge Jeannette Vargas issued the temporary order in New York on Friday, just hours after New York and New Jersey officials said construction would halt due to a lack of funds.
Vargas said states will likely succeed in their arguments that the Trump administration’s directive to freeze funds is arbitrary and runs afoul of legal procedures for making policy changes.
The White House and the U.S. Department of Transportation did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the decision.
Acting New Jersey attorney general Jennifer Davenport and New York attorney general Letitia James issued statements praising the decision.
“The Trump administration must immediately abandon this political revenge campaign and allow work to continue on this vital infrastructure project,” Davenport said.
Trump’s Republican administration froze the funds as part of a “brazen act of political revenge” against its Democratic leaders, the two states said in a lawsuit filed Jan. 3. They said that stopping work would disrupt a very important infrastructure project, harm their economy and burden them with the costs of securing idle construction sites.
The Trump administration has halted $205 million in reimbursements for the project since October 1. Trump reportedly demanded that Washington Dulles international airport and New York’s Penn Station be renamed for him in exchange for the release of funds, sparking harsh criticism from Democrats.
He told reporters Friday that he did not recommend renaming Dulles or Penn Station. Trump did not comment on Vargas’ decision.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said Sept. 30 that it was freezing funds pending a review of the project’s compliance with new federal prohibitions against race and gender-based considerations in contracting decisions.
According to the lawsuit, the Gateway Development Commission notified the department that it was making changes and conducting a review to ensure compliance with regulations, but there was no response.
Gateway said the suspension would put 1,000 construction workers out of work and that Trump’s decision endangered commuters who had to rely on “decaying, century-old rail infrastructure.” Gateway had previously said the business had already been suspended.
Last month, Trump asked U.S. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer to support renaming Washington Dulles international airport and Penn Station after the president. Trump told reporters on Friday that Schumer suggested renaming Penn Station, but Schumer, who represents New York, called that claim an “absolute lie” in a social media post.
While New Jersey senator Cory Booker said that Trump was holding the tunnel hostage, New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat, said that the president “continues to put his own narcissism” on the union affairs and economic benefits of the projects.
Reuters contributed reporting
