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Trump Unveils Strategy to Dismantle NYC’s Congestion Pricing—Here’s His Playbook
By: Fern Sidman
In an exclusive interview with The New York Post that appeared on Saturday, President Donald Trump unveiled his plan to eliminate congestion pricing in Manhattan by leveraging the power of the federal Department of Transportation (DOT). The strategy could involve withholding millions of dollars in federal funding and reopening the environmental review process that allowed the toll to proceed under the Biden administration.
Trump, who has been outspoken in his opposition to the $9 congestion pricing tax for vehicles entering Manhattan’s Congestion Relief Zone south of 60th Street, described the policy as “destructive to New York” and vowed to use federal leverage to dismantle it.
The New York Post reported that Trump has already engaged in at least two phone conversations with New York Governor Kathy Hochul about the issue, though he declined to provide details of those discussions.
“Out of respect” for Hochul, Trump told The New York Post, he is keeping their conversations private for now, but added: “If I decide to do it, I will be able to kill it off in Washington through the Department of Transportation. It’s a lot of power.”
The fate of congestion pricing in New York City may now hinge on Trump’s potential return to the White House, where he could exert federal influence over the policy.
A major component of Trump’s plan to force an end to congestion pricing, according to The New York Post, is the potential withholding of federal transportation funds.
New York currently receives $36 billion in federal transportation funding under a five-year allocation plan that extends until the end of 2026, according to the information provided in The New York Post report. Trump indicated that these funds, along with other federal grants, could be at risk if the congestion pricing policy is not revoked.
Critics of the congestion toll argue that its revenue—earmarked for public transit infrastructure—comes at the cost of business losses, reduced tourism, and economic damage.
“Traffic is way down because people can’t come into Manhattan, and it’s only going to get worse,” Trump told The New York Post. “People don’t know about it until they get the bill.”
While Governor Hochul has touted congestion pricing’s success in reducing vehicle traffic, Trump rejected that argument, contending that the decrease in traffic is not a sign of efficiency but a symptom of economic decline.
“That’s because no one’s coming to the city,” he stated bluntly in his conversation with The New York Post.
Beyond congestion pricing, Trump also took aim at the overall state of New York City, particularly its subway system. He criticized officials for failing to address rising crime, arguing that instead of taxing drivers, city leadership should focus on making public transit safer.
“New York should focus on safety and cleanliness in the subway,” Trump told The New York Post. “Cleanliness and efficiency are good, but they gotta get tough on the thugs. They can’t be nice.”
Citing high-profile incidents of subway riders being pushed onto the tracks, Trump insisted that tougher crime policies should take priority over new taxes and environmental programs.
His remarks align with broader Republican criticism of Democratic-led urban policies, which many conservatives argue have contributed to crime spikes in major metropolitan areas.
As part of his broader transportation overhaul vision, Trump also revealed to The New York Post that he wants to remove bike lanes, which he believes are major contributors to New York City’s traffic congestion.
Bike lanes have been a highly controversial feature of the city’s transportation infrastructure, with proponents arguing that they promote environmental sustainability and reduce car dependency, while critics—including Trump—contend that they take up valuable road space and worsen traffic congestion.
By targeting bike lanes, Trump is signaling a potential reversal of decades of urban planning efforts, which have emphasized pedestrian-friendly and cyclist-friendly policies.
With congestion pricing now a political flashpoint, Trump’s promise to dismantle the policy through federal intervention sets the stage for a high-stakes battle between Washington and New York state. Trump’s Department of Transportation could have the authority to revoke approvals, stall federal funding, and even push for a policy rollback, according to The New York Post.
Meanwhile, Governor Hochul’s administration continues to defend congestion pricing, arguing that it will fund public transit improvements and reduce gridlock.
However, with Trump’s deep ties to New York City’s business sector, he maintains that the policy hurts the city more than it helps. “I think it’s really horrible, but I want to discuss it with her at this point,” Trump told The New York Post.
His behind-the-scenes negotiations with Hochul suggest that he still believes a deal to cancel congestion pricing is possible. However, if no agreement is reached, Trump appears ready to wield federal power to force the issue.
With New Yorkers divided on congestion pricing, the battle over its future is far from over. The fate of the toll could shift dramatically, as Trump appears poised to use every federal tool at his disposal to strike it down.
For now, Trump has made his position clear: Congestion pricing is a “disaster” for New York, and if given the power, he will do everything he can to “kill it” through Washington.
