Trump Seeks to Block New York's Congestion Pricing Plan, Sparking Legal Battle

Trump Seeks to Block New York's Congestion Pricing Plan, Sparking Legal Battle

The US government moved on February 19, 2025, to block New York’s new congestion pricing program, designed to reduce traffic and fund public transportation by imposing tolls on drivers entering Manhattan. The move follows President Donald Trump's vow to dismantle the plan, which launched in January 2025 as the first such program in the country.

The $9 toll for drivers entering Manhattan south of Central Park was introduced after receiving last-minute approval just before Trump's inauguration. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, withdrawing federal approval for the program, igniting immediate criticism from local leaders.

Duffy called the program a "slap in the face" to working-class Americans and small business owners, arguing it unfairly prioritizes public transit over road use and disrupts commerce. Trump also celebrated the move on his Truth Social platform, declaring the plan "dead" and claiming that New York was "saved."

In response, Governor Hochul expressed her support for the program, calling it a success and gaining increasing support. She declared that the state would take legal action, stating, "We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king."

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) quickly filed a lawsuit to challenge the federal government's decision. MTA CEO Janno Lieber emphasized that the program had already reduced congestion, improving traffic flow and travel times, and benefiting buses and emergency vehicles.

Before the toll went into effect, around 700,000 vehicles entered the congestion zone daily, with traffic averaging just seven miles per hour. The congestion pricing initiative also aims to reduce air pollution.

Environmental group Evergreen Action condemned the Trump administration's move, calling it a "reckless, illegal effort to dismantle critical climate and economic policies."

Though similar toll systems have been in place in other major cities like London and Stockholm, the implementation in New York faces significant opposition and legal hurdles, as the car-centric culture of the United States complicates efforts to charge drivers.

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