Court blocks funding freeze on Hudson Tunnel Project, Gateway officials say work can resume
NEW JERSEY — The Gateway Development Commission welcomed a court decision halting an effort to freeze federal funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project, saying the ruling clears the way for construction activity to restart once funds are released.
In a statement issued following the hearing, the commission said it was pleased with the court’s action and thanked officials in New York and New Jersey for taking steps to protect access to federal funding for the project, which is considered critical to the region’s transportation infrastructure.
“We thank our partners in New York and New Jersey for taking action to help us access the federal funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project,” the Gateway Development Commission said in its statement. “As soon as funds are released, we will work quickly to restart site operations and get our workers back on the job.”
The ruling blocks an attempt by the Trump administration to freeze funding for the project, which would construct new rail tunnels under the Hudson River linking New Jersey and New York. The project is seen as vital to maintaining and expanding capacity along the Northeast Corridor.
Acting New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the court correctly determined that the funding freeze was unlawful and would have caused significant harm to both states.
“As the court correctly recognized, the Trump Administration’s attempts to freeze funding for the Gateway Tunnel project are plainly illegal, and they would cause grave harm to New Jersey and New York,” Davenport said. “We are grateful that the court agreed to put a halt to this unlawful freeze on this emergency basis.”
Davenport said the decision protects jobs and investments tied to the project.
“The order issued this evening should ensure that nearly 1,000 workers will be able to keep their jobs and continue their work on the Tunnel, preserving the investments New Jersey and New York have made in this project and preventing further economic damage to our states, while next steps in the case play out,” she said.
Davenport also criticized the administration’s actions and pledged continued legal action if necessary.
“The Trump Administration must drop this campaign of political retribution immediately and must allow work on this vital infrastructure project to continue,” she said. “If not, I pledge to keep fighting in court on behalf of all New Jerseyans.”
Officials said further developments in the case will determine the long-term path forward, but the ruling allows the Hudson Tunnel Project to move ahead while litigation continues.
