Judge slams Trump over “flagrant” bid to freeze Hudson Tunnel funding

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill welcomed the judge's verdict.

NEW YORK: In another setback for United States President Donald Trump, a federal judge has blocked the administration from withholding funds for one of America’s most critical infrastructure projects. US District Judge Jeanette Vargas has declared the Trump administration’s move to freeze billions of dollars for the Hudson River Tunnel, connecting New York to New Jersey, as “illegal” and a clear violation of federal law.

The $16 billion Hudson Tunnel Project aims to build two new rail tunnels and rehabilitate the century-old North River Tunnel connecting New Jersey to Penn Station in New York. In her 59-page decision, Judge Vargas noted that the defendants do not dispute that the suspension of federal grants flagrantly violates federal law, adding that the administration made almost no effort to justify its actions under federal regulations.

Earlier, President Trump declared the project as “pretty much dead,” adding that it was a $20 billion project that Schumer fought for 15 years to get. New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, both Democratic Party politicians, welcomed the decision. They described the verdict as a clear message that any political attempt to halt the funding for critical infrastructure projects will not stand in the court of law.