Tunnel Work Stopped While Funding Fight Heats Up

The new Hudson River tunnel plan, worth about $16 billion, will pause at 5 p. m. ET on Friday because federal money has stayed frozen for four months, the Gateway Development Commission said. The project aims to fix an old rail tunnel built in 1910 that was badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy, and to build a brand‑new tunnel beneath the Hudson. If the current tunnel fails, commuters in the New York–New Jersey area could face major disruptions, as the corridor carries more than 200, 000 riders and 425 trains each day. The Transportation Department has not returned $205 million in reimbursements since October, and the pause will leave about 1, 000 construction workers idle. Critics say the decision endangers travelers who depend on aging rail infrastructure.President Trump has demanded that Washington Dulles Airport and New York’s Penn Station be renamed after him in exchange for unfreezing the money. Democrats have called this move outrageous, and a federal judge is set to hear an emergency request from New York and New Jersey that could force the release of funds. The tunnel project received roughly $15 billion in federal support under President Biden, and almost $2 billion has already been spent. The debate over naming rights versus infrastructure needs highlights the broader political clash over public works funding.