On the first day of the federal government shutdown, New York City is learning just how costly its commitment to “diversity, equity, and inclusion” policies could be under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The projects affected are among the most significant in New York’s long-term transportation planning. One is the Hudson Tunnel Project, which would add a new passenger rail tunnel under the Hudson River, a vital corridor for Amtrak and New Jersey Transit. The other is the long-delayed Second Avenue Subway expansion, a project that has been discussed for decades and is seen as critical to easing congestion on Manhattan’s East Side.
In a follow-up post, Vought confirmed both projects are on ice, immediately sparking debate over whether the freeze was primarily about DEI or about politics.The Associated Press noted that the timing suggested more than policy. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, has made the Hudson Tunnel Project one of his signature priorities. In 2023, Schumer locked in a $6.88 billion federal grant for the tunnel. At the time, he acknowledged the funding was partly a safeguard in case Trump returned to the White House and Republicans reclaimed the Senate
Both of those things have now happened.House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who represents Brooklyn, also has a stake in the projects and has been one of Trump’s most vocal opponents in Congress.
The decision to freeze funding hits directly at the priorities of both New York Democrats who are central to the shutdown fight.
CBS News highlighted how the move reverberated beyond policy debates. For Schumer and Jeffries, it was a political gut punch delivered on the same day Democrats were already facing pressure for allowing the shutdown to drag on.
The broader context is that Trump has made rolling back DEI spending a cornerstone of his second administration.
During his first term, Trump signed an executive order restricting DEI training in federal agencies, though it was later rescinded by President Joe Biden.
Now, with Trump back in office and Republicans holding a Senate majority, the administration is applying that principle to billions of dollars in federal spending.
Vought framed the decision as a matter of constitutional principle. Supporters of the freeze argued online that taxpayers should not be forced to fund projects or programs that prioritize ideological commitments over core infrastructure needs.
“This is what accountability looks like,” one Trump supporter wrote on X. “No more DEI slush funds disguised as public works.”
Critics, however, accused the White House of weaponizing federal funding to punish political opponents. Some Democrats argued that the timing — the very first day of the shutdown — made it clear the freeze was aimed squarely at Schumer and Jeffries.
“This isn’t about DEI, it’s about Donald Trump flexing power,” one Democratic strategist said.
For New Yorkers, the practical implications are serious. The Hudson Tunnel Project is part of the larger Gateway Program, which seeks to modernize a century-old rail system that millions of commuters depend on.
Delays in federal funding could set the project back years, raising costs and leaving existing tunnels vulnerable to breakdowns. The Second Avenue Subway, meanwhile, has been in the works since the 1920s and has already been plagued by delays and cost overruns.
In New Zealand, a meeting run crash killed a high schooler driver and his co-driver.
Young person Brooklyn Horan and 35-year-old Tyson Jemmett were the two individuals who unfortunately kicked the bucket.
At the point when Horan and Jemmet’s vehicle collided with a waterway at the Shangri-la Street Rallysprint in Paparoa, they were hustling.
As indicated by a police specialist, the vehicle went off the rock street and into an overflowed stream.
Specialists on call articulated the two of them dead at the scene.
MotorSport New Zealand made it official that Horan was in the driver’s seat of the vehicle when it crashed.
New Zealanders can’t get a driver’s permit until they are 16 years of age, however more youthful drivers can contend in certain circumstances.
MotorSport New Zealand’s site says that the lesser driver program “implies that individuals matured 12 to 16 can get a rivalry permit.”
MotorSport says that youthful drivers frequently partake in these sorts of rivalries.
The association has said, however, that it will do a full examination.
“The occasion occurred on Shangri-la Street in Paparoa which was shut to the general population for the span of the occasion under the power of the neighborhood Street Controlling Power,” an assertion from MotorSport said.
“It is too soon in the examination to remark on what the vitally contributing variables to the accident were, be that as it may, it doesn’t appear to be like the street was in an impeding or dangerous condition.”
“Our contemplations are with the families and companions of these two contenders and everybody engaged with the Utopia Street Rallysprint,” said Wayne Christie, leader of Motorsport New Zealand.
“This horrendous misfortune will, in actuality, shock and upset everybody in the motorsports world.”
“We will offer help to that large number of engaged with the next few days.”
A many individuals have been honoring the two via online entertainment.
In the wake of catching wind of the two-casualty crash, Hyden Paddon, victor of the World Meeting Title, went on X to say how sorry he is.
He said, “What a miserable occasion yesterday! Two extraordinary individuals were taken too early.”
“Tyson was a gigantic convention fan and family man, and Brooklyn Horan was one of the most intriguing youthful meeting stars who planned to become wildly successful.”
“Your profession might have just barely been beginning however you had previously made some meaningful difference.”
Winger Motorsport stated: “For sake of the group at Winger Motorsport, we send our sympathies to the loved ones of Brooklyn Horan and his co-driver Tyson.”
(1Eighty Dashing) added, “Such a characteristic ability! Your family is in our viewpoints and you will be remembered fondly on the track.
While Hodgson Motorsport stated, “It was with crushing sadness that we heard the letting the cat out of the bag that Brooklyn passed on while doing the very thing our families cherished together.”
“It’s occasions such as these that you recall that the game we picked accompanies the most noteworthy of ups and the least of downs.”
“Brooklyn you were an astonishing kind cherishing blissful youngster and that hadn’t changed years some other time when we ran into each other again back at going romping last year, the saucy grin was as yet unchanged, you had quite recently grown a weeee bit taller.”
His significant other, Lucy, is pregnant with their most memorable youngster and will miss him definitely.
A portion of his old collaborators have begun a pledge drive to help his better half and unborn youngster.