Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Trump Officials Ordered Congestion Pricing to End Friday. Now What?
Trump Officials Ordered Congestion Pricing to End Friday. Now What?
As the March 21 deadline looms, the M.T.A. has refused to stop the tolls and sued the transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, and federal officials in federal court in Manhattan.
Federal authorities have ordered New York to pull the plug on congestion pricing by March 21, setting up a showdown with defiant transit leaders. Dave Sanders for The New York Times
By Winnie Hu and Stefanos Chen
March 20, 2025, 3:00 a.m. ET
President Trump has aggressively intervened in New York City affairs. He shocked Columbia University by stripping away government grants and contracts and demanding an overhaul of its admissions and disciplinary rules. ... His administration threatened to cut off funding to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority unless it provided a long list of statistics on subway crime. ... And even before he took office, Mr. Trump had his sights on congestion pricing.
Trump officials have given New York until Friday to end the embattled tolling program. It aims to reduce traffic and pollution while raising billions for public transit but has drawn opposition. ... New York leaders have vowed to continue charging the tolls. And while the March 21 deadline is largely symbolic, it could be a prelude to a broader legal and political battle that could drag out for years.
On Tuesday, Sean Duffy, the U.S. transportation secretary, sent a letter to the M.T.A. raising concerns about crime on the subway and seeking data, most of it already publicly available. While he made no mention of congestion pricing, some transportation and legal experts questioned the timing of the letter and whether it was a thinly veiled attempt to get more leverage over the M.T.A. ... “It’s entirely possible that this is a means to a predetermined end,” said Justin Balik, a former city transportation official who is now a vice president at Evergreen Action, an environmental advocacy group. “There is a gun to the head of mass transit and sustainable policy in general,” he added.
Last month, Mr. Duffy informed Gov. Kathy Hochul of a federal reversal on the tolling plan, which had been approved by the Biden administration. ... The M.T.A. immediately sued federal officials in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, arguing that they could not unilaterally reverse a program that had been thoroughly vetted. ... It was the latest hurdle for congestion pricing, a plan that was decades in the making and has become a litmus test for political allegiances and a wedge between urban and suburban voters. Beyond the New York City region, it joins a growing list of policies that Mr. Trump has targeted for rhetorical gain.
{snip}
Winnie Hu is a Times reporter covering the people and neighborhoods of New York City. More about Winnie Hu
Stefanos Chen is a Times reporter covering New York City’s economy. He previously covered real estate in the city for over a decade. More about Stefanos Chen
As the March 21 deadline looms, the M.T.A. has refused to stop the tolls and sued the transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, and federal officials in federal court in Manhattan.
Federal authorities have ordered New York to pull the plug on congestion pricing by March 21, setting up a showdown with defiant transit leaders. Dave Sanders for The New York Times
By Winnie Hu and Stefanos Chen
March 20, 2025, 3:00 a.m. ET
President Trump has aggressively intervened in New York City affairs. He shocked Columbia University by stripping away government grants and contracts and demanding an overhaul of its admissions and disciplinary rules. ... His administration threatened to cut off funding to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority unless it provided a long list of statistics on subway crime. ... And even before he took office, Mr. Trump had his sights on congestion pricing.
Trump officials have given New York until Friday to end the embattled tolling program. It aims to reduce traffic and pollution while raising billions for public transit but has drawn opposition. ... New York leaders have vowed to continue charging the tolls. And while the March 21 deadline is largely symbolic, it could be a prelude to a broader legal and political battle that could drag out for years.
On Tuesday, Sean Duffy, the U.S. transportation secretary, sent a letter to the M.T.A. raising concerns about crime on the subway and seeking data, most of it already publicly available. While he made no mention of congestion pricing, some transportation and legal experts questioned the timing of the letter and whether it was a thinly veiled attempt to get more leverage over the M.T.A. ... “It’s entirely possible that this is a means to a predetermined end,” said Justin Balik, a former city transportation official who is now a vice president at Evergreen Action, an environmental advocacy group. “There is a gun to the head of mass transit and sustainable policy in general,” he added.
Last month, Mr. Duffy informed Gov. Kathy Hochul of a federal reversal on the tolling plan, which had been approved by the Biden administration. ... The M.T.A. immediately sued federal officials in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, arguing that they could not unilaterally reverse a program that had been thoroughly vetted. ... It was the latest hurdle for congestion pricing, a plan that was decades in the making and has become a litmus test for political allegiances and a wedge between urban and suburban voters. Beyond the New York City region, it joins a growing list of policies that Mr. Trump has targeted for rhetorical gain.
{snip}
Winnie Hu is a Times reporter covering the people and neighborhoods of New York City. More about Winnie Hu
Stefanos Chen is a Times reporter covering New York City’s economy. He previously covered real estate in the city for over a decade. More about Stefanos Chen