The Battle for Manhattan’s Streets: Trump vs. New York in a High-Stakes Brawl

New York City’s congestion pricing program—America’s first attempt to make drivers pay for clogging its streets—has ignited a full-blown war between New York State and the Trump administration. Launched on January 5, 2025, the controversial $9 toll for drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street was meant to curb traffic, fund mass transit, and cut pollution. But just weeks later, President Donald Trump came swinging, hell-bent on crushing the program in what’s shaping up to be a defining battle over urban policy, states’ rights, and climate action.

Trump’s Power Play: Killing Congestion Pricing with the Stroke of a Pen

On February 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) suddenly yanked its federal approval for congestion pricing, claiming it unfairly punishes working-class drivers and lacks proper authorization. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy argued the tolls violate federal highway laws, asserting that roads funded with federal dollars can’t be tolled without explicit congressional consent. The move stunned transit advocates and sent shockwaves through city and state governments.

New York’s Counterattack: The MTA and Hochul Go to War

Within hours, Governor Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) struck back, filing a federal lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of a political hit job. They argue the USDOT’s reversal is an illegal overreach that undermines years of studies, approvals, and state sovereignty. MTA Chair Janno Lieber didn’t hold back, calling the administration’s move "baseless," pointing out that traffic had already dropped by 9% while emergency response times improved significantly.

The Legal War Zone: State Rights vs. Federal Power

This fight isn’t just about tolls—it’s about whether New York has the right to govern its own streets.

• Trump’s Argument: Highways built with federal funds can’t be tolled without special congressional approval.
• New York’s Rebuttal: The 2019 Traffic Mobility Act and the federal Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP) gave them the green light after a grueling 4,000-page environmental review.
• The Environmental Justice Debate: New Jersey officials and anti-toll groups claim congestion pricing just shifts pollution to lower-income areas. The MTA points to its $155 million mitigation package aimed at protecting these communities.

Political Theater: Trump’s Victory Lap and Hochul’s Rebuttal

Never one to miss a dramatic moment, Trump celebrated the USDOT’s move with a Truth Social post:

“CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE KING!”

A thinly veiled boast about his Manhattan real estate holdings, the statement sparked outrage. Hochul fired back with a stinging historical reference:

“New York hasn’t labored under a king in 250 years… We sure as hell aren’t starting now.”

Meanwhile, suburban leaders like Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy are fanning the flames, calling the toll a "blatant cash grab" for the MTA.

Early Results: Congestion Pricing Was Working—Until It Wasn’t

Despite the chaos, congestion pricing had already begun to deliver results:

• Traffic Plummeted: 1.2 million fewer vehicles clogged Manhattan in January 2025, slashing travel times at key crossings like the Holland Tunnel by up to 48%.
• Public Transit Surged: Subway and bus ridership jumped between 7% and 21%. Even Broadway attendance shot up 17%.
• Economic Boon: Businesses inside the toll zone reported increased foot traffic, defying doomsday predictions of financial ruin.

But all of that is now hanging by a thread. The courts will decide whether congestion pricing is here to stay or if Trump’s wrecking ball will smash it to pieces.

What Happens Next?

• The Immediate Fight: The MTA is demanding an injunction to keep tolls in place during litigation. A federal judge in the Southern District of New York will soon rule on whether the USDOT’s move was even legal.
• The Bigger Picture: If the Trump administration’s decision stands, congestion pricing efforts in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago could be dead before they even begin. But if New York prevails, the program could serve as a blueprint for urban sustainability nationwide.

The Final Showdown: A Fight for America’s Cities

This is more than just a policy dispute—it’s a battle over who controls the future of America’s cities. Can New York push forward with its vision of cleaner air, better transit, and less gridlock? Or will Trump’s hardball tactics set the stage for a new era of federal interference in state-led urban reforms?

Governor Hochul has made her position clear:

“We will fight this in court, in the streets, and in the court of public opinion.”

Strap in. This war is just getting started.