NEW YORK — The federal government has pushed back its deadline for New York to end its congestion tolling program in Manhattan — but Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy clearly isn’t happy about it.
In a social media post today (March 20, 2025) addressed to Gov. Kathy Hochul, Duffy said the date to end the tolling program would be pushed back 30 days from the original deadline (tomorrow, March 21) while discussions continue, but also said Hochul’s refusal to halt the program and “open disrespect toward the federal government is unacceptable.”
Calling the tolling program — which funds Metropolitan Transportation Authority capital projects — “unlawful” and a “a slap in the face to hard working Americans,” Duffy also issued a veiled threat: “Know that the billions of dollars the federal government sends to New York are not a blank check. Continued noncompliance will not be taken lightly.”
Hochul responded with three words — “Like I said …” — and a repost of a Feb. 19 message: “The cameras are staying on” — a reference to the license-plate readers used to assess the tolls.
John McCarthy, the MTA’s chief of policy and external relations, said in a statement, “The status quo remains, which means everyone can continue to expect less traffic, faster commutes, and safer streets in Manhattan. As we’ve said, there was exhaustive study, projected benefits were right, and we can’t go back to gridlock.”
The congestion tolling program began in January, following federal approval last year. But President Donald Trump had said during his campaign that he would end the program, and Duffy announced on Feb. 19 that the federal government was revoking its approval. Trump heralded the move on social media with a post saying “Manhattan, and all of New York is saved. Long Live the King!” The MTA filed suit that same day to prevent the end of the program [see “New York MTA sues …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 19, 2025], and MTA CEO Janno Lieber said this week the tolling would continue: “It’s just the reality that when you have a dispute, things don’t change until a court orders it.“
The federal government’s escalating dispute with New York and the MTA also includes a March 18 letter from Duffy to Lieber threatening to withhold or redirect funds if the MTA did not provide information about its efforts to address transit-system crime [see “Citing crime concerns …,” News Wire, March 19, 2025]. Duffy had sent similar letters earlier this month to now-deposed Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority CEO Randy Clarke, but those requests did not mention the possibility of withholding funds.
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