Trump Administration Blocks NYC Tolls, Hochul Threatens Lawsuit

Drivers heading into Manhattan will no longer be forced to pay congestion fees after President Donald Trump’s administration struck down Gov. Kathy Hochul’s tolling program. The controversial plan, which charged drivers $9 to enter the Central Business District, is now the subject of a legal battle after Hochul vowed to fight the decision in court.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy informed Hochul that the toll plan violated federal rules against charging fees on highways funded by taxpayer dollars. He criticized the policy as an unfair burden on commuters and businesses, many of whom rely on vehicles to travel between New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

The congestion pricing plan, which had been in place since early January, faced significant opposition from business owners and working-class residents who saw it as just another tax. Critics argued that public transit should not be funded by charging drivers more, especially those who have no alternative but to use their cars for work.

Trump announced the decision on Truth Social, posting, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD… LONG LIVE THE KING!” Hochul, furious over the move, fired back with, “We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king,” before confirming that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority had filed a lawsuit to challenge the administration’s ruling.

Hochul’s plan was originally approved under the Biden administration, which had waived federal tolling restrictions to let New York implement the program. The Trump administration reversed that waiver, arguing that the tolls were an unnecessary financial burden on New Yorkers.

With the tolls now off the table, drivers will no longer have to pay extra just to enter Manhattan, though Hochul’s legal challenge could determine whether the fees make a return.

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