That Time Trump Threatened to Defund the NYC Subway Over $9 Congestion Toll

Federal Funds for Transit at Risk

President Trump wants to cut federal funding to the New York City subway.

The threat came in early January 2025, just days after Manhattan launched its new congestion pricing program.

Trump called the $9 toll on drivers a “roadblock to American freedom” and ordered the Department of Transportation to review whether it violates federal law.

The subway carries 3.6 million riders every weekday, and what happens next could reshape how Washington funds transit across the country.

The $9 Toll Went Live on January 5

Manhattan’s congestion pricing program launched on January 5, 2025, charging drivers up to $9 to enter the borough below 60th Street.

The toll runs 24 hours a day, with lower rates overnight and discounts for off-peak hours. The MTA expects to raise $15 billion over time for transit improvements.

New York became the first American city to charge drivers for entering its busiest streets, following models in London, Stockholm, and Singapore.

The MTA Gets $1.4 Billion Annually

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority receives about $1.4 billion in federal funding each year.

That money pays for capital projects like new subway cars, station renovations, elevator installations, and signal upgrades.

It does not cover daily operations like paying train operators or running service.

Federal transit dollars flow through the Federal Transit Administration and come with strings attached, including environmental reviews and accessibility requirements.

Cutting Funds Would Freeze Big Projects

If Trump follows through, the biggest casualty would be the Second Avenue Subway extension.

Phase 2 of the project would bring the Q train from 96th Street up to 125th Street in East Harlem, serving neighborhoods that have waited decades for better transit.

Accessibility upgrades at dozens of stations would also stall.

The MTA has already committed to making 95 percent of stations accessible by 2055, a goal that requires steady federal investment.

Daily Trains Would Still Run

Subway service would not shut down overnight if federal funding disappeared.

The MTA pays for daily operations through fare revenue, dedicated taxes, and state subsidies. Trains would keep running, buses would stay on the streets, and commuters would still get to work.

But the system would slowly fall behind on maintenance, and the gap between what the subway needs and what it can afford would grow wider every year.

Trump Already Approved This Toll Once

The federal environmental review that cleared congestion pricing happened during Trump’s first term.

In 2019, the Federal Highway Administration began reviewing the program under the National Environmental Policy Act. That review continued through the Biden administration and concluded with approval in 2023.

New York officials argue that the toll is already legal under federal law and that Trump cannot unilaterally reverse a completed regulatory process.

DOT Is Looking for Legal Grounds

Trump directed the Department of Transportation to find ways to block or reverse congestion pricing.

The agency is reviewing whether the program violates federal highway laws or civil rights protections. Some Trump allies argue that tolling discriminates against suburban and out-of-state drivers.

Legal experts say any challenge would face an uphill battle in court, since the program went through years of federal review and public comment.

Governor Hochul Refuses to Back Down

Governor Kathy Hochul has defended congestion pricing as essential to fixing the subway. She paused the program briefly in 2024 over concerns about the toll amount, then revived it with a lower $9 rate.

Hochul says the MTA cannot afford to lose federal funding and has vowed to fight any cuts in court. MTA officials have warned that canceling congestion pricing would blow a $15 billion hole in the capital budget.

3.6 Million Riders Use It Every Day

The New York City subway is the largest rapid transit system in North America. On an average weekday, 3.6 million people ride its 472 stations across four boroughs.

The system runs 24 hours a day, one of the few in the world that never closes.

It moves more passengers than the next six largest American transit systems combined. Any disruption to its funding ripples through the entire regional economy.

Other Transit Agencies Are Nervous

Transit systems across the country are watching the New York fight closely.

Federal funding supports subways, buses, and light rail in cities from Los Angeles to Chicago to Atlanta. If Trump can pull funding from the MTA over a policy dispute, other agencies worry they could be next.

Transit advocates say the threat sets a dangerous precedent for using infrastructure dollars as a political weapon.

Courts Will Likely Have the Final Word

The legal battles over congestion pricing and federal funding could take years to resolve. New York will almost certainly sue if Trump cuts MTA funding, and the case would work its way through federal courts.

Meanwhile, congestion pricing remains in effect, drivers keep paying the toll, and the MTA keeps collecting revenue.

For now, the subway runs. What happens next depends on judges, not politicians.

See the System Yourself at Grand Central

Grand Central Terminal sits at the heart of the transit network now caught in a political crossfire.

The Beaux-Arts landmark opened in 1913 and today serves both Metro-North commuter trains and multiple subway lines. You can visit the main concourse with its famous celestial ceiling any day of the week for free.

The terminal is at 89 East 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan, open from 5:15 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Free guided tours run every day at 12:30 p.m. from the information booth.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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