Journalism of Courage
The Donald Trump administration has put a hold on $2.1 billion meant for infrastructure projects in Chicago, extending a funding dispute tied to the ongoing government shutdown, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
White House budget director Russ Vought said on Friday that the money for the projects, including a long-awaited extension of the city’s Red Line train, was paused to ensure “funding is not flowing via race-based contracting.” He made a similar announcement earlier in the week about New York, saying $18 billion for infrastructure there, including a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, was also on hold.
Trump has supported Vought’s approach. On Thursday night, he posted a video on social media showing himself as the Grim Reaper holding a scythe.
The suspension is a setback for Chicago’s plans to expand its public transport. The Red Line extension aims to add four stations on the city’s South Side, improving access for communities that rely heavily on the service. Another project, modernising the Red and Purple lines, is also affected.
Illinois Democrat Mike Quigley said in an interview with AP that the announcement was “a very bad day for public transit in the country when it becomes weaponised.” He added: “This was our prized baby and they know it. This was the most important new transit project in Chicago in 50 years.”
In New York, the Transportation Department said it was reviewing whether “unconstitutional practices” were linked to two major projects. But it noted that the shutdown, which began on Wednesday, had forced it to furlough the staff handling the review.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer criticised the move, telling AP the freeze would hurt commuters. “Obstructing these projects is stupid and counterproductive because they create tens of thousands of great jobs and are essential for a strong regional and national economy,” he said.
Yonah Freemark, a transit researcher at the Urban Institute, told AP that Chicago and New York may have to sue, arguing they had followed federal law when applying for and winning the competitive grants. He said even if the cities succeed in court, delays would raise costs.
“What we’re seeing in the Trump administration is that the federal government can renege on their commitments with these grants,” Freemark said.
