Construction on the critical $16 billion Gateway Tunnel project to improve railroad service on both sides of the Hudson River could be 'derailed or
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer warned of dire consequences if President Trump doesn’t unfreeze funding for the Gateway Tunnel Project by next Friday.to improve railroad service on both sides of the Hudson River could be “derailed or permanently killed” unless President Trump quickly releases federal funds heDuring a Jan.
27 meeting of the Gateway Development Commission — the entity in charge of replacing the tunnels — the senator urged Trump to free up the $4.38 billion in funding the feds have already allocated for the undertaking by Feb. 6. The funds were awarded under the Biden administration.“We are here today to say that President Trump can, and he must, restore Gateway ASAP — because the money, as the board will tell you, is going to run out all too soon,” said Schumer, who is also the Senate’s Democratic minority leader. The commission has continued work on the project since the federal funding freeze by utilizing a line of credit, GDC CEO Tom Prendergast said during the meeting. However, he said that was only a temporary solution that will not last past next Friday. “We have now drawn down nearly all of the available sources and credit and can no longer continue funding construction without access to the original project’s funds,” Prendergast said. “For that reason, we have notified our contractors that work will have to stop on Feb. 6 if additional funding does not become available.”, coinciding with the beginning of the last federal government shutdown. At the time, the federal Department of Transportation said the pause would last until it completed a review of whether the project’s contracts complied with the administration’s new rules on women- and minority-owned businesses. The Gateway Project involves building two new train tunnels underneath the Hudson River to replace the two existing ones, which are deteriorating from 116 years of use and damage caused by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Officials have warned that those tunnels, especially the North River Tunnel, need to be replaced as quickly as possible to avoid losing an essential transportation artery. The existing tunnels, owned and operated by Amtrak, carry tens of thousands of commuters between New York and New Jersey each weekday via Amtrak and New Jersey Transit. The tubes are also part of Amtrak’s broader Northeast Corridor, a line between Boston and Washington, D.C., that carries roughly 800,000 passenger trips each day.Any prolonged pause in the Gateway project, Schumer contended, would carry dire consequences. Those include losing tens of thousands of union jobs; placing further strain on the existing tunnels; potentially tanking property values; and devastating both the regional and national economies. He laid the blame for the project’s likely pause squarely on Trump, arguing that the president can simply order U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to unfreeze the federal dollars. “If Trump doesn’t pick up that phone and give Gateway the green light, jobs will be lost; the economic output, that will evaporate; the real estate values, that will tank; all of that will be on President Trump’s head,” Schumer said. Alicia Glen, the GDC’s New York commissioner and co-chair, also argued that the decision is entirely in Trump’s hands. “Let’s be clear that there is only an audience of one, one person who needs to hear our collective voices, and we all know who that is,” Glen said of Trump. “So we are telling you today on behalf of hundreds of workers, thousands of riders, millions of Americans who are counting on you, Donald Trump, must restore funding to this project.” White House spokesperson Kush Desai fired back, in a statement, that it is actually Schumer and the Democrats “standing in the way” of letting the money flow, rather than the president, by “refusing to negotiate with the Trump administration.” “There is nothing stopping Democrats from prioritizing the interests of Americans over illegal aliens and getting this project back on track,” Desai added. His comments appeared to tie the project’s future to Senate Democrats’ opposition to aEthan Stark-Miller is amNewYork’s Transit Editor. He covers the MTA , the city Department of Transportation, and all other forms of getting around in the Big Apple. He previously covered politics for amNY.Subway crime dipped 4% in 2025 compared to the previous year; December saw slight uptick: NYPDMAMDANI’S FIRST 100 DAYS: Deadly extreme cold claims 10 New Yorkers’ lives, mayor says while expanding ‘Code Blue’ responseJets part ways with Tanner Engstrand after 1 seasonDay comes early to Union Square with Cupid Project Party at Time Out MarketSubway crime dipped 4% in 2025 compared to the previous year; December saw slight uptick: NYPD
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Missing Long Island Teen Disappeared After Meeting Someone from Roblox in NYCA 15-year-old Long Island boy, Thomas Medlin, went missing after traveling to New York City to meet someone he connected with on Roblox. His family and authorities are actively searching for him, raising concerns about online safety and potential risks associated with online interactions. The Suffolk County Police Department is investigating the case and the community is united in their hope for his safe return.
Read more »
Snowfall Totals Across NYC Reach Up to 9 InchesNew York City experienced significant snowfall on Sunday, January 25th, with the highest totals recorded in Bellerose, Queens, reaching 9 inches. The snow is expected to continue into the evening, potentially transitioning into a wintry mix. The report provides snowfall measurements from various locations across the city.
Read more »
PHOTOS: Snow blankets NYC during heavy winter stormA blanket of snow began covering NYC on Sunday, and although a weather warning is in effect, the blizzard did very little to slow down New Yorkers.
Read more »
A 100-foot tunnel, secret bunker and weapons stash found at MAGA activist's California homeAuthorities discovered a massive stash of illegal firearms and a secret underground bunker at the base of a 100-foot tunnel on a MAGA activist's property in Northern California.
Read more »
Gateway tunnel work to shut down, affecting thousands of jobs unless Trump restores fundingConstruction of the $16 billion Gateway rail tunnel under the Hudson River was stopped Tuesday because the project is out of money due to a stalemate in Washington.
Read more »
Gateway Tunnel Project construction will stop if President Trump continues to withhold funds, officials sayConstruction on the critical Gateway Tunnel Project linking New York and New Jersey may be halted soon unless President Trump changes course, officials said.
Read more »