Special Poll
New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday after the Trump administration took steps to revoke federal approval for the city’s congestion pricing program, which had only gone into effect in January.
If the program is struck down, the city’s public transit system could lose billions of dollars intended for infrastructure improvements. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed concern over the financial strain the toll places on working-class Americans, stating in a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul that he shared the president’s worries about the added burden on daily commuters. MTA chair and CEO Janno Lieber criticized the administration’s sudden reversal, pointing out that the program had undergone four years of federal environmental review and had received final approval just three months prior.
Governor Hochul responded to the decision with a firm stance, stating, “We’ll see you in court.” She also pushed back against President Trump’s remarks on social media, where he declared that Manhattan and all of New York had been “saved” from the program, ending his post with, “Long live the king!” Hochul countered by emphasizing that the country operates under laws, not monarchical rule.
The congestion pricing initiative had been delayed for months before finally launching in January. However, in June, Hochul had already paused its implementation indefinitely, citing concerns about its impact on drivers. In his letter, Duffy argued that the program exceeded the authority granted by Congress under the Value Pricing Pilot Program, suggesting that its primary purpose was to generate revenue for the MTA rather than to reduce congestion.
The administration’s decision has sparked a legal and political battle between state and federal powers, with the Republican-led executive branch challenging a program backed by New York’s Democratic leadership. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy had also urged the Trump administration to reexamine the policy on Inauguration Day, further intensifying the dispute over the toll’s future.