US President Donald Trump has claimed a major victory over New York’s contentious congestion pricing scheme, celebrating the federal government’s intervention to halt the policy and even declaring himself “king” in a social media post.
“CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” Trump wrote on Wednesday, following the federal government’s decision to block additional tolls for vehicles entering the city.
The decision was formally announced in a letter from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, stating that the federal government holds jurisdiction over highways leading into Manhattan. Duffy argued that the congestion tolls placed an undue financial burden on commuters from outside the city, particularly from neighbouring states.
New York pushes back
Governor Hochul, speaking from Grand Central Terminal, pushed back strongly against Trump’s claim of victory, ridiculing his self-proclaimed title.
“President Donald Trump tweeted, ‘Long live the king.’ I’m here to say New York hasn’t laboured under a king in over 250 years,” Hochul said. “And we sure as hell are not going to start now.”
The now-blocked congestion pricing scheme aimed to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality by imposing fees on most vehicles entering Manhattan’s central business district—from 60th Street down to the Financial District. Under the proposed system, motorists would have been charged a peak toll of $9 on weekdays from 5 am to 9 pm and during the same hours at weekends.
Federal officials call congestion pricing ‘unfair’
Trump’s administration has framed the congestion pricing plan as punitive towards working-class Americans and small business owners.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy strongly criticised the policy, calling it “backwards and unfair” in a statement.
“New York State’s congestion pricing plan is a slap in the face to working-class Americans and small business owners,” Duffy said. “Commuters using the highway system to enter New York City have already financed the construction and improvement of these highways through gas taxes and other taxes.”
MTA vows to fight back
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which oversees New York’s transport network, has vowed to fight the federal intervention in court. Janno Lieber, chairman and CEO of the MTA, defended congestion pricing, arguing that it had undergone thorough federal review and was already bringing economic and environmental benefits.
“We tried gridlock for 60 years. It didn’t work,” Lieber said. “It cost our economy billions. But you know what’s helping our economy? What’s making New York a better place? Congestion pricing.”
Lieber’s comments reflect the city’s long-standing argument that reducing vehicle traffic in Manhattan would not only improve air quality but also generate vital funds for public transport investment.
Divided political reactions
Reactions to the decision have been sharply divided along geographical lines. While many New York City leaders condemned the federal intervention, lawmakers from suburban areas and neighbouring states, particularly in New Jersey, hailed it as a victory.
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“Today is a huge win for Jersey families, their wallets, and the environment,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.).
Gottheimer has been a vocal opponent of the congestion toll, arguing that it was merely a “giant cash grab” by the MTA at the expense of New Jersey commuters.
“From Day One, when we first started this fight, we knew that the Congestion Tax was just a giant cash grab for New York and the MTA—all on the backs of hardworking Jersey families.”
Hochul mocks new jersey complaints
Governor Hochul dismissed claims that congestion pricing was unfair to New Jersey commuters, sarcastically referencing the fact that both the New York Giants and New York Jets play their home games in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“In what world should we be standing down to the will of another state?” Hochul asked. “That just doesn’t happen. I mean, I personally would like to have all the New York teams playing in New York. But I’m not proposing that the federal government go annex the Meadowlands.”
What’s next?
With the federal government blocking New York’s congestion pricing plan, legal battles seem inevitable. The MTA is expected to challenge the decision in court, while state officials will likely explore alternative strategies to implement tolling policies in a way that circumvents federal restrictions.
At the same time, Trump’s administration has made it clear that it will continue to prioritise policies aimed at reducing financial burdens on suburban and out-of-state commuters, potentially setting the stage for more confrontations with New York’s leadership.
For now, the city’s congestion pricing scheme has been placed on indefinite hold, leaving New York’s long-term traffic and transport funding plans in uncertainty.
