Trump Ties NY Tunnel Funding to Renaming Penn Station and Dulles Airport, Schumer Rejects Proposal

A major New York–New Jersey infrastructure project remains in limbo after President Donald Trump reportedly tied its funding to an unusual personal demand.

According to sources familiar with the conversation, Trump told Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer last month that he would lift a freeze on more than $16 billion in federal funding for the Gateway rail tunnel project — but only if Schumer agreed to rename Penn Station and Washington Dulles International Airport after him.

Schumer quickly rejected the proposal, telling the president he had no authority to approve such name changes.

The funding remains frozen, putting the long-planned Gateway Project — a critical rail connection beneath the Hudson River linking New York and New Jersey — at risk. Project officials warn construction could soon halt, potentially leading to layoffs for about 1,000 workers.

New York and New Jersey have now filed suit against the Trump administration, arguing the suspension of funding is unlawful and politically motivated.

The White House declined to comment on the reported exchange, while Schumer’s office also did not respond.

The episode underscores Trump’s broader push to attach his name to major initiatives and institutions. Since returning to office, he has rolled out several programs bearing the Trump brand, including TrumpRx, a prescription drug platform, and other high-profile projects.

Still, the demand tied to the Gateway tunnel would mark one of the most aggressive efforts yet — leveraging a vital public infrastructure project for personal recognition.

Although some conservative lawmakers have introduced legislation to rename Dulles Airport, the proposal has gained little traction in Congress and remains unlikely to advance.

For now, negotiations over the tunnel funding appear stalled, leaving the future of one of the Northeast’s most important transportation projects uncertain.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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