Trump administration stands firm on April 20 deadline to end NYC congestion pricing despite court delay
By lauraharris // 2025-04-13
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  • The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), under Trump's direction, insists New York must scrap congestion pricing by April 20, rejecting a court agreement that would allow the tolls to continue pending litigation.
  • The MTA sued DOT after federal approval for the tolls was revoked, while Hochul ignored earlier deadlines, leading to extended court proceedings. Federal officials warn they will enforce consequences for non-compliance, including potential funding cuts.
  • Opponents (including Trump) argue the tolls unfairly tax commuters amid inflation, calling it a "slap in the face" to working-class Americans. Proponents claim it reduces traffic and funds transit upgrades.
  • Trump vows to eliminate congestion pricing if reelected, either by withholding federal transit funds or reopening environmental reviews, alleging it harms NYC's economy and businesses.
  • The DOT accused New York's media of lying about the tolls' suspension, asserting that the April 20 deadline stands and threatening further action if the state defies it.
  • A clash between federal authority (Trump/DOT) and state autonomy (Hochul/MTA) over a policy framed as either economic oppression or essential urban reform.
The Trump administration reaffirmed its demand for New York to scrap its congestion pricing toll by April 20, defying a recent court agreement that suggested the fee could remain in place through the summer as litigation unfolds. In February, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which operates the tolling program, sued Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy after he revoked federal approval for the congestion pricing plan. Advocates claim the fee reduces gridlock while generating billions for transit upgrades. However, critics, including the Trump administration, argued that it unfairly burdens commuters amid rising inflation. (Related: Federal crackdown on sanctuary cities intensifies as AG Bondi suspends their funding.) In line with this, Duffy ordered the state to end the tolling program by March 21. Duffy argued that the 9-9-36 daily charge – applied to vehicles entering Manhattan's busiest zones – a "slap in the face to working-class Americans and small business owners." However, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul ignored the initial March 21 deadline, prompting federal officials to set the new April cutoff on the 20th. But Hochul said the state intends to ignore this too. A joint court filing on April 4 indicated that both sides agreed to extended legal proceedings, with deadlines stretching into July or October. The MTA and federal lawyers also noted they would not seek an injunction to halt toll collections during the case – suggesting the fees would remain in place. But the Department of Transportation (DOT) pushed back, asserting the April 20 deadline remains in effect. "This is a complete lie by the elitist New York liberal media, whose rich buddies love the idea of pricing poor people out of the city," the agency posted on X. "The truth is simple: Agreements on judicial timelines have no bearing on the underlying merits of our case or our position. Make no mistake – the Trump Administration and DOT will not hesitate to use every tool at our disposal in response to non-compliance later this month." Moreover, Duffy previously hinted that federal transit funding for New York could be jeopardized if the state refuses compliance.

Trump believes congestion pricing is "destructive to New York"

This move from the DOT aligns with Trump's broader stance against congestion pricing during his 2024 presidential campaign. In February, Trump – a vocal critic of the $9-per-vehicle toll imposed on drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street –reiterated this plan and asserted that he could "kill" the program through the Transportation Department by withholding federal funding or reopening the environmental review process. "I think it's really horrible, but I want to discuss it with her at this point," he said in February when asked if he and Hochul could make a deal over ending the levy. "If I decide to do it, I will be able to kill it off in Washington through the [DOT]. It's a lot of power." He believes this is "destructive to New York" and harmful to businesses. "Traffic is way down because people can't come into Manhattan and it's only going to get worse," he said. "People don't know about it until they get the bill." The congestion pricing scheme, which took effect in January, aims to reduce gridlock while funneling revenue into subway improvements. But Trump dismissed claims of reduced traffic as a sign of economic decline: "That's because no one's coming to the city." Visit Trump.news for more updates in the second Trump administration. Watch this clip explaining why congestion pricing is getting out of hand. This video is from the Son of the Republic on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

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Federal crackdown on sanctuary cities intensifies as AG Bondi suspends their funding.

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Sources include: Newsmax.com Yahoo.com Brighteon.com
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