SUBSCRIBE

Trump admin halts $18B for key projects in Dem leaders' city after shutdown

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks next to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) during a press conference following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and top Republican congressional leaders at the White House, just ahead of a September 30 deadline to fund the government and avoid a shutdown, at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., U.S., September 29, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
David Edwards
October 01, 2025

Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought announced that President Donald Trump's administration was halting key infrastructure projects in the home state of the two top Democrats in Congress, hours after they declined to prevent a government shutdown.

In a Wednesday post on X, Vought suggested that the Hudson Tunnel and the Second Ave Subway projects could violate Trump's policy against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

"Roughly $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects have been put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing based on unconstitutional DEI principles. More info to come soon from @USDOT," Vought wrote.

New York is the home state of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Vought did not offer any evidence that the projects had implemented DEI policies.

Both projects are massive and long-running, and will affect millions of New Yorkers. The Hudson Tunnel also affects millions of New Jersey residents.

Related Post