Zincwarrior
Diamond Member
Well this is a new one. Trump demanded renaming Dulles International Airport and Penn Station after himself in exchange for release of already budgeted funds to build a tunnel between New York and New Jersey.
Trump wanted Dulles Airport, Penn Station named after him — in exchange for releasing federal funds
Trump wanted Dulles Airport, Penn Station named after him — in exchange for releasing federal funds
Trump has named several landmarks and initiatives after himself since he returned to office.
The Trump administration asked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for the Washington region’s Dulles International Airport and New York’s Penn Station to be named after President Donald Trump in exchange for releasing the federal funds required to build a long-delayed tunnel between New York and New Jersey, multiple sources told NBC News.
The administration halted funding for the $16 billion Gateway project at the start of the federal government shutdown last fall. But even though the shutdown ended in November and the full appropriations packages passed this week, the administration has yet to release the money.
The massive $16.1 billion project includes a new railway tunnel under the Hudson River that would connect New Jersey and New York. The project underwent years of delays and other problems, but it got a boost in 2024 when President Joe Biden’s administration agreed to provide an additional $6.9 billion.
White House budget director Russell Vought said at the time that he was stopping funding for infrastructure projects to “ensure” it wasn’t used “on unconstitutional DEI principles.”
The states of New York and New Jersey have sued to force the administration to release the funds, which had already been appropriated.
The Gateway project warned that it will be forced to halt construction soon if the money doesn’t start flowing. If that happens, thousands of construction workers would be laid off.
Money for the project will run out Friday.
The White House declined to comment, and Schumer’s office did not respond to a request for comment. A source close to Schumer told NBC News that "there is nothing to trade."
"The president stopped the funding, and he can restart the funding with a snap of his fingers," the source said.
Trump wanted Dulles Airport, Penn Station named after him — in exchange for releasing federal funds
Trump wanted Dulles Airport, Penn Station named after him — in exchange for releasing federal funds
Trump has named several landmarks and initiatives after himself since he returned to office.
The Trump administration asked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for the Washington region’s Dulles International Airport and New York’s Penn Station to be named after President Donald Trump in exchange for releasing the federal funds required to build a long-delayed tunnel between New York and New Jersey, multiple sources told NBC News.
The administration halted funding for the $16 billion Gateway project at the start of the federal government shutdown last fall. But even though the shutdown ended in November and the full appropriations packages passed this week, the administration has yet to release the money.
The massive $16.1 billion project includes a new railway tunnel under the Hudson River that would connect New Jersey and New York. The project underwent years of delays and other problems, but it got a boost in 2024 when President Joe Biden’s administration agreed to provide an additional $6.9 billion.
White House budget director Russell Vought said at the time that he was stopping funding for infrastructure projects to “ensure” it wasn’t used “on unconstitutional DEI principles.”
The states of New York and New Jersey have sued to force the administration to release the funds, which had already been appropriated.
The Gateway project warned that it will be forced to halt construction soon if the money doesn’t start flowing. If that happens, thousands of construction workers would be laid off.
Money for the project will run out Friday.
The White House declined to comment, and Schumer’s office did not respond to a request for comment. A source close to Schumer told NBC News that "there is nothing to trade."
"The president stopped the funding, and he can restart the funding with a snap of his fingers," the source said.
