New York Governor Kathy Hochul defended Manhattan’s congestion pricing program in a high-stakes Oval Office meeting with former President Donald Trump, days after federal officials ordered an abrupt halt to the tolling initiative. The $9 vehicle fee aims to reduce Midtown traffic and fund subway upgrades, but critics claim it burdens commuters.
The Trump administration paused the program Wednesday, calling it economically harmful. Hochul countered by presenting data showing 6% fewer vehicles entering Manhattan’s core since its January launch.
‘We followed every federal rule,’the governor emphasized, while Trump celebrated the freeze on social media as
‘a victory for America’s forgotten workers.’
A federal lawsuit by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has temporarily kept the tolls active. Legal analysts suggest the case could delay subway improvements funded by projected $1 billion in annual toll revenue.
The clash extends beyond traffic policy:
- Federal charges of corruption against NYC Mayor Eric Adams
- Disputes over migrant shelter reimbursement cuts
- A lawsuit against NY’s driver’s license law for undocumented residents
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy argued the tolls disproportionately affect suburban drivers, while environmental groups praise reduced emissions. With Hochul vowing to fight the freeze ‘using every legal tool,’ both sides brace for prolonged courtroom battles amid national debates about urban sustainability and federal oversight.