by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:55 AM ET, Tue May 6, 2025
The city of New York and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority are now requesting a U.S. judge to block the presidential administration from ending the controversial congestion pricing program that was aimed at reducing traffic congestion within Manhattan.
The effort is the latest update on the issue, which gained national attention when the Trump Administration began attacking the program, which started in January before Trump’s inauguration.
The State of New York also asked a judge for a preliminary injunction to block the federal government from blocking the congestion pricing program.
According to Reuters, New York launched the program, the first of its kind in the nation, to cut congestion common in Manhattan by charging most passenger vehicles about $9 to enter Manhattan during peak periods of the year, with buses being charged a bit more.
The effort was expected to generate $500 million for the city in its first year, which would be allocated to upgrading public transportation systems, including the subway.
The USDOT approved it during the Biden Administration. London and Singapore both have similar programs already in place, with London charging £15 per vehicle and while critics have been vocal about it, so have its supporters.
According to city officials, the program cut the number of cars in the region by 5.8 million during the first quarter of the year, which is around an 8 to 13 percent reduction.
“Since congestion pricing took effect over two months ago, traffic is down and business is up – and that’s the kind of progress we’re going to keep delivering for New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said in a March statement on the preliminary impact of the program. “Every day, more New Yorkers are seeing and hearing the benefits for our commutes, quality of life and economy – and we’re not going back.”
Yet in February, President Trump said he would end congestion pricing in the city, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy trying to end the program and threatening to withhold federal funding from the city if New York officials didn’t back down on the program. Officials have also noted that retail spending, hotel stays, and pedestrian traffic have all increased.
The issue gained global attention when Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself wearing a crown on social media with the phrase: “LONG LIVE THE KING!” in response to his efforts to end the program.
Secretary Duffy also recently threatened New York Governor Kathy Hochul, telling her that the USDOT may withhold project funding for environmental approvals should the state not end the program by the end of May.
“President Trump and I will not sit back while Governor Hochul engages in class warfare and prices working-class Americans out of accessing New York City,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “The federal government sends billions to New York—but we won’t foot the bill if Governor Hochul continues to implement an illegal toll to backfill the budget of New York’s failing transit system. We are giving New York one last chance to turn back or prove their actions are not illegal.”
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