The massive Gateway tunnel project came to a screeching halt at 5 p.m. Friday — a day after it was revealed that President Trump offered to pony up the $16 billion in federal funds in exchange for renaming New York’s Penn Station and Washington’s Dulles International Airport after him.
Trump had frozen the funding for the infrastructure project — which would construct a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River connecting New Jersey to New York City — on the first day of the government shutdown in October, during which Democrats held up federal funding for a record 43 days.
The president then offered to restore the funds during negotiations with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), a source familiar with the discussion told The Post.
President Trump has requested Dulles Airport and Penn Station to be renamed after him during negotiations to release $16B in funds for the Gateway Project Aaron Schwartz – Pool via CNP/Shutterstock
While Sen. Schumer reportedly told the President that he didn’t have the authority to rename Penn Station after him, a source close to both men says that “Trump Station” does have a bit of a ring to it. Michael Brochstein/ZUMA / SplashNews.com
However, Schumer reportedly told Trump that he didn’t have the authority to fulfill the unusual request, according to CNN.
The work stoppage for the tunnel slated to connect New Jersey and New York by 2035 has resulted in the immediate loss of nearly 1,000 jobs, according to the Gateway Development Commission.
“For more than two years, the hardworking men and women building the Hudson Tunnel Project have not missed a day of work. That changes today, because the federal Administration continues to withhold funding for this vital investment in our nation’s rail infrastructure,” Gateway Development Commission CEO Tom Predergast said in a statement.
“After spending more than $1 billion, and countless hours of hard work, on this project, we will be left with empty construction sites in New York and New Jersey,” he continued.
The tri-state area commission also warned that delaying construction could cause the over a century-old North River Tunnel to shut down and lead to further economic losses.
The work stoppage has resulted in the loss of nearly 1,000 jobs. Getty Images
The Gateway Development Commission blamed the Trump administration in a statement. Robert Miller
The commission sued the Trump administration last week over the freeze while the administration probes for possible “racist DEI” contracts.
“There is only one person who terminated Gateway and only one person who can get it back on track: President Trump,” a Schumer spokesperson said.
The Post reached out to the White House for comment.
Attorney General Tish James, meanwhile, brought up the renaming trade in her nominating speech at the state convention Friday.
“Thank god Sen. Schumer said hell no,” she said.
Gov. Hochul was previously fine with renaming Penn to “Trump Station” when she pulled $1.3 billion from the project last April.