Trump-Appointed Judge Deals Blow To Feds’ Plan To Nix Blue State Climate Toll Scheme

A Trump-appointed judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Department of Transportation (DOT) from freezing federal funding to New York over its congestion pricing program, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman — who was appointed during the first Trump administration — approved a request by the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for a court order barring the federal government from withholding funding over the city’s congestion pricing toll, Bloomberg reported. Liman determined that the MTA would suffer “irreparable harm” without a temporary restraining order in place and blocked the Trump administration from cutting federal funds for New York until June 9.

In January, the MTA began imposing a $9 congestion toll for cars entering Manhattan neighborhoods during peak hours. Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed the toll to reduce traffic and fund MTA projects that she says will improve the city’s subway system and air quality in “environmental justice communities.” (RELATED: ​​‘No Such Thing As Santa Claus’: Socialist NYC Mayor Hopeful’s $10 Billion Wish List Meets Reality)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 26: Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks as Janno Lieber, Chair & CEO at New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, listens on during the MTA Board’s monthly meeting at Grand Central Madison on February 26, 2025 in New York City. Gov. Kathy Hochul made remarks at the MTA monthly meeting where she spoke about the state’s ongoing effort to continue its plan for congestion pricing. The board also heard public remarks from workers and people in the community. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

In February, the Trump administration rescinded the congestion pricing approval granted by the Biden administration, arguing that the policy would impose an unfair burden on working-class commuters into the city while the wealthy would be able to absorb the fees. The Trump administration initially set a March 21 deadline to end the tolling program, but extended the compliance date to April 20 and again to May 21.

“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,” DOT Secretary Sean Duffy said in April. “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.”

Duffy had warned that the Federal Highway Administration may halt construction projects through Manhattan and environmental approvals for projects in Manhattan, among other “compliance actions,” if noncompliance continues past May 28, CBS News reported. In April, attorneys for the federal government accidentally published an internal memo that identified weaknesses in the DOT’s legal strategy for taking down the congestion pricing program.

“Judge Liman’s temporary restraining order is a massive victory for New York commuters, vindicating our right as a State to make decisions regarding what’s best for our streets. New Yorkers deserve to control our own traffic patterns, keep gridlock off our streets and protect our clean air,” said Hochul in a statement on the ruling. “Secretary Duffy can issue as many letters and social media posts as he wants, but a court has blocked the Trump Administration from retaliating against New York for reducing traffic and investing in transit.”

DOT, Hochul, and the MTA did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment.

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