MANHATTAN (WABC) — A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that the Trump administration does not have the authority to kill Manhattan’s congestion pricing program.
In a 149-page ruling, Judge Lewis Liman said the Trump administration’s attempt to revoke approval for the first-of-its-kind program was unlawful, handing a victory to the MTA following a months-long legal battle.
“It is difficult to imagine more arbitrary and capricious decision-making than that at issue here,” Liman wrote.
The judge reaffirmed an order from last May upholding the program, but stopped short of completely forbidding the Trump administration from challenging the program again.
“(Trump) is obviously free to continue to make public statements as well as to ask the Secretary of Transportation to look into whether there are lawful means to end the (Central Business District Tolling Program.) And, as to the Secretary’s statements, he has a right to continue to fight his case and to take an appeal of this Court’s orders,” Judge Liman said.
Overall, Judge Liman said the program was the “product of a democratic process” and cannot be arbitrarily revoked.
“The (Value Pricing Pilot Program) was passed by Congress. The (Traffic Mobility Act) was passed by democratically elected legislators and signed by a Governor elected by the people of New York. The (Value Pricing Pilot Program) Agreement was authorized by a Secretary nominated by a duly elected President and confirmed by the Senate. The democratic process worked,” the judge wrote.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber is also celebrating Tuesday’s decision allowing congestion pricing to continue, saying the ruling makes clear that the first-of-its-kind program is “here to stay.”
“We’ve said it all along, and Judge Liman’s clear, detailed ruling leaves no doubt: congestion pricing is legal. It’s here to stay. And it works,” he said in a statement. “Traffic is down, business is up, and we’re making crucial investments in a transit system that moves millions of people a day. Today, once again, Secretary Duffy failed and New York is winning.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the ruling demonstrates that President Donald Trump’s “unlawful attempts to trample on the self-governance of his home state have failed spectacularly.”
“Congestion pricing has been a once-in-a-lifetime success story. In its first year, congestion pricing has yielded huge benefits: reduced gridlock, faster trips, safer streets, and cleaner air, all while unlocking critical funding for mass transit upgrades. I have been clear from day one: my administration will fight any unlawful effort by the Trump administration to attack the sovereignty of New York State with everything we’ve got. Today, we won again,” she said in a statement. “The judge’s decision is clear: Donald Trump’s unlawful attempts to trample on the self-governance of his home state have failed spectacularly. Congestion pricing is legal, it works, and it is here to stay. The cameras are staying on.”
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.