Trump Administration Halts New York City's Congestion Pricing Initiative

The Trump administration has ordered a halt to New York City's congestion pricing tolls, which aimed to reduce traffic and fund public transit by charging a $9 fee for most vehicles entering lower Manhattan. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy criticized the toll as unfair to working-class Americans and small businesses, and the Federal Highway Administration will oversee its termination. Trump celebrated the decision on social media, declaring that the congestion pricing is 'dead,' while Governor Kathy Hochul has pledged to challenge the move in court, emphasizing the program's initial success in reducing traffic. The MTA, which oversees public transit, has already initiated legal action to keep the program alive. This decision has reignited political tensions between the Trump administration and New York officials, with advocates for public transit expressing concern over the impact on congestion and environmental goals. The congestion pricing system was implemented in January and had shown promising results in its early stages.