The Trump administration is actively seeking to halt congestion pricing initiatives.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged a judge on Tuesday to act “as soon as possible,” several months after President Trump announced the suspension of tolls for vehicles entering Lower Manhattan.
Back in February, President Trump proclaimed on Truth Social, “Manhattan, and all of New York, is saved. Long live the King!”
However, as the legal battle continues, Mr. Duffy is looking to overturn agreements established under the Value Pricing Pilot Program, which was approved by Mr. Trump prior to his renewed presidency this year. The toll system has withstood numerous legal challenges prior to its launch, making its cancellation increasingly complex.
In a recent filing, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate “respectfully” requested Judge Louis J. Lehman to expedite a summary judgment regarding the ongoing case to repeal congestion pricing.
Both New York state and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have taken legal action to prevent the Trump administration from dismantling the toll system.
The first congestion charge in the country went into effect in early January, imposing a $9 fee on drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street.
Yet in June, Mr. Lehman issued a significant ruling against Mr. Duffy, as several federal rate suspension “deadlines” had lapsed. He granted a preliminary injunction that blocked the MTA from altering the program throughout the litigation process.
Mr. Lehman stated that the federal government had “acted arbitrarily and capriciously” in seeking to terminate the congestion pricing agreement, asserting that the MTA had demonstrated a “likelihood of success based on its merits.” He specifically restricted Mr. Duffy from executing the “compliance actions” he outlined in a critical letter from April.
Both sides were instructed to submit motions for summary judgment, which would argue that the opposing party had no valid case. Mr. Liman indicated that a ruling could potentially resolve the situation entirely by the end of the year.
With just 29 days left before a decision, Liman received a letter from the Fed encouraging him to act diligently.
