Trump Urges Review of New York City Congestion Fee Amid Legal Battle

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has directed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to reconsider efforts to terminate New York City’s vehicle congestion fee, months after a federal judge blocked the administration’s initial attempt. The congestion pricing program, launched in January, charges most passenger vehicles $9 during peak hours to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street, generating an estimated $500 million annually to support transit improvements.

In May, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued a preliminary injunction preventing the federal government from withholding funding over the program. Despite this, Trump criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s support for congestion pricing, calling it a “ridiculous” policy that is turning Manhattan into “a ghost town.” Hochul countered that the fee has successfully eased gridlock while boosting business and tourism, and vowed to defend the program in court if challenged again.

The congestion fee underpins $15 billion in debt financing for New York’s mass transit upgrades. Earlier this month, the Trump administration froze $18 billion in federal funding for major infrastructure projects, including the $17.2 billion Hudson River tunnel project. Judge Liman is expected to issue a final ruling on the legality of the congestion pricing program by the end of December.

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