New York sues Trump administration over Second Avenue Subway funding
Gov. Hochul announced the state is suing to recover billions in withheld federal funds for the subway extension into East Harlem.
1:49 PM
New York State is suing the Trump administration over billions of dollars in federal funding for the Second Avenue Subway extension, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.
Hochul said the administration has illegally withheld the funds. "We're suing the Trump administration for illegally withholding billions of dollars for the Second Avenue Subway extension. For months, they've stood in the way of progress. New Yorkers can't afford to wait," she wrote on social media.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has not received promised federal funds since October, according to officials. The MTA is seeking the release of funds for the planned expansion into East Harlem through the legal action.
Officials warned that the funding pause could delay contracts, raise costs and put the project's timeline at risk. The lawsuit seeks to compel the release of the withheld federal dollars needed to advance the subway extension.
The legal action follows a similar dispute over the Gateway Tunnel Project, which was resolved when funding was restored through court action. That precedent underscores the state's willingness to pursue litigation to secure federal transit dollars.
The Second Avenue Subway extension has long been a priority for New York City transit infrastructure. The project aims to expand service into East Harlem, an area currently underserved by the subway system. Federal funding commitments have been central to the project's financing plan.