Trump Claims He Has Ended $16 Billion Hudson River Tunnel Project, Sparking Fierce Backlash

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump abruptly declared the $16 billion Gateway Hudson River tunnel project “terminated.” The declaration followed intense debates over a federal government shutdown and hefty spending cuts. Trump assailed Schumer at a news conference, saying he had supported the project for decades and that its funding will be cut.

In recent weeks, the Trump administration delayed funding for the Hudson River Tunnel and New York’s Second Avenue Subway expansion due to a review of government funds and complaints about unlawful DEI criteria in federal spending. The freeze impacts $18 billion in major transportation infrastructure financing. After a halt, Trump ended the Gateway tunnel project.

New York and New Jersey authorities reacted strongly to the disclosure. Senator Schumer called Trump’s plan “petty revenge politics,” adding cutting the project will affect commuters and destroy thousands of jobs. Governor Kathy Hochul called the decision dumb, saying the region relies on transit and a collapse may hurt the economy. Other state leaders and Congressmen highlighted that the tunnel project had bipartisan support and that canceling it now would affect infrastructure, not partisans.

Political and fiscal disagreements have delayed the Gateway project, which promises to decrease congestion and increase rail capacity between NY and NJ. Northeast rail operations require restoration of the century-old Hudson River tunnels damaged after Superstorm Sandy. The new tunnel will open in 2035 as part of a larger plan to refurbish and expand tubes.

The declaration does not specify if cancelation means legal or administrative cash loss or political pressure on shutdown negotiators. State politicians and transportation officials want Washington bridges to protect the project and resist permanent funding cuts.

Sources
AP News
NorthJersey
CBS News
Gateway Program records