New York Governor Kathy Hochul advocated for the continuation of Manhattan’s congestion tolling during a meeting with President Donald Trump held in the Oval Office. This meeting took place after federal officials issued an order to pause the program, as announced by Hochul’s spokesperson.
During the more than hour-long discussion on Friday, Hochul and Trump touched on various topics, including immigration, infrastructure, and energy sources like offshore wind and nuclear power. According to press secretary Avi Small, the governor presented Trump with a booklet that highlighted the early achievements of the congestion pricing initiative.
Further details on their conversation were not disclosed, and the White House did not respond to requests for comments following the meeting. The congestion tolling program, which began on January 5, aims to alleviate traffic congestion and support public transit funding by implementing a $9 fee for most vehicles entering Manhattan’s core south of Central Park. Officials have noted that the toll has resulted in moderate but observable reductions in traffic.
In light of the federal order, the tolls will remain effective for the time being, due to a federal lawsuit filed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)—the agency responsible for public transit in New York City. Hochul stated that the tolls would continue as the lawsuit unfolds.
However, Trump, whose Trump Tower and other properties lie within the congestion zone, celebrated the federal intervention, declaring on his social media platform that “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED.” He also shared an image of himself wearing a crown against the backdrop of the New York skyline.
In response to Trump’s assertion, Hochul firmly stated, “New York hasn’t labored under a king in over 250 years,” during a press conference at Grand Central Terminal, emphasizing that the era of monarchy was long gone.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy criticized the tolls, describing them as “a slap in the face to working-class Americans and small business owners.” The topic of congestion tolling has turned contentious within New York, with significant opposition from suburban commuters and residents in areas lacking convenient subway access, while advocates highlight its potential to improve traffic flow and combat air pollution.
The feud between New York officials and the Trump administration extends to various other matters as well. Hochul has expressed discontent with federal actions involving the alleged corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams.
Additionally, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a lawsuit against Hochul and the state’s attorney general concerning a law that grants driver’s licenses to individuals who may not have legal status in the U.S. Bondi argued that this legislation contradicts federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Recently, Trump ally Elon Musk publicly criticized federal reimbursements sent to New York City for expenses related to housing migrants, leading to the suspension of those payments and the dismissal of four federal employees. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also reclaimed over $80 million from the city intended for migrant sheltering costs, resulting in a legal challenge.
At the same time, New York Attorney General Letitia James and her fellow Democratic attorneys general in other states initiated legal actions against the Trump administration on matters such as the access by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to federal payment systems, which are supposed to safeguard sensitive personal information, and the regime’s attempts to halt federal funding.
