Gateway Tunnel stalls as Trump reportedly demands naming rights for NY Penn Station

💲Gateway Tunnel work halted after President Trump froze approved funds

💲Trump reportedly wants train station, airport named after him to release funds

💲 NJ and NY sue Trump administration, seeking an emergency injunction to restart work

The Hudson River's Gateway tunnel project is going off the rails.UPDATE: Judge steps in at last minute to save $16B NJ–NY rail tunnel from shutdown.

After freezing already-approved federal funding for the commuter tunnel project, President Donald Trump is reportedly pressing Democratic leaders to rename New York Penn Station after him as the price for releasing the money.

Funds released by Congress for the Gateway Tunnel remain locked up by the Trump administration, forcing construction work to be suspended and throwing one of the region’s most critical infrastructure projects into limbo.

The Gateway Development Commission announced Friday morning that it will pause all work sites related to the project by the end of the day, impacting roughly 11,000 construction jobs immediately. In total, the shutdown jeopardizes an estimated 95,000 jobs and $19.6 billion in anticipated economic activity tied to the project, according to the GDC. That was before a federal judge stepped in and ordered the Trump administration to restore the funding.

Most Democratic members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation joined Gov. Mikie Sherrill at a project site in Weehawken on Friday, where they blasted Trump over reports that he told Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., he would release the funds only if New York Penn Station and Washington’s Dulles International Airport were renamed after him.

ALSO READ: Trunk stunt on NJ ice ends underwater, draws outrage

NJ Dems accuse Trump of 'bull****'

Sherrill accused Trump of repeatedly shifting his demands while holding the project — and thousands of workers’ livelihoods — hostage.

“At first, it was the DEI requirements, which the federal government was questioning. We assured them we had that covered. Then it was the DHS funding. Now it’s the naming,” Sherrill said. “There is no deal. The goal posts move every five minutes. But what doesn’t happen is an investment in working men and women.”

Sherrill said New Jersey and New York filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration seeking an emergency injunction. A judge was expected to hear arguments Friday, which could allow work to continue for another 12 days while the case proceeds in federal court.

U.S. Rep. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. 8th District, put it more bluntly: “This is bulls**t.”

ALSO READ: NJ election results can't call race to replace Sherrill in Congress

Republicans support release of funding

Although none of the three Republican members of the congressional delegation were at the briefing, they too support continued funding of the Gateway project.

Rep. Chris Smith, 4th District, in a letter shared with New Jersey 101.5 urged Transportation Secretary to release the funds and said that continued federal-state cooperation on this project is critical.

"Shutting down or pausing the project at this intensive phase will compound construction costs and force almost 1000 union laborers working across five construction sites out of work," Smith said. "The Gateway project also uses custom-built boring machines uniquely suited for the tunnels’ geology, which could be staggeringly expensive to replace in the event that the project restarts at a later date."

U.S. Rep. Tom Kean, R-N.J. 7th District, agreed that delays threaten jobs, rider reliability, and one of the nation’s most important transportation corridors.

“I am pressing for this funding to move forward in full,” Kean said in a written statement. “While there are always competing priorities in Washington, this project must be completed. I will continue fighting across administrations and working with partners in both parties to secure the federal commitment needed to complete the Gateway Tunnel.”

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J. 2nd District, said New Jersey leaders should work with Trump to complete the project, while also keeping costs under control.

“At the same time, we need to closely scrutinize it so it is done on time, on budget, and in a fiscally responsible way,” Van Drew said in an email. “Everyone needs to work together, cooperate, and put the politics aside so the job gets done.”

The Trump administration has not publicly commented on the status of the frozen funds.

Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom