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Trump Freezes $18 Billion In NYC Projects Over DEI Spending<\/p>\n
On the first day of the federal government shutdown, New York City is learning just how costly its commitment to \u201cdiversity, equity, and inclusion\u201d policies could be under President Donald Trump\u2019s administration.<\/p>\n
Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, announced Wednesday that roughly $18 billion in federal funding for two major New York City infrastructure projects has been frozen.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoughly $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects have been put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing based on unconstitutional DEI principles,\u201d Vought wrote on X. \u201cMore info to come soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
The projects affected are among the most significant in New York\u2019s 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\u2019s East Side.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Both of those things have now happened.<\/p>\n
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who represents Brooklyn, also has a stake in the projects and has been one of Trump\u2019s most vocal opponents in Congress.<\/p>\n
The decision to freeze funding hits directly at the priorities of both New York Democrats who are central to the shutdown fight.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The broader context is that Trump has made rolling back DEI spending a cornerstone of his second administration.<\/p>\n
During his first term, Trump signed an executive order restricting DEI training in federal agencies, though it was later rescinded by President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what accountability looks like,\u201d one Trump supporter wrote on X. \u201cNo more DEI slush funds disguised as public works.\u201d<\/p>\n
Critics, however, accused the White House of weaponizing federal funding to punish political opponents. Some Democrats argued that the timing \u2014 the very first day of the shutdown \u2014 made it clear the freeze was aimed squarely at Schumer and Jeffries.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t about DEI, it\u2019s about Donald Trump flexing power,\u201d one Democratic strategist said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
A monsoon storm hit the Phoenix area, bringing a dust storm, thunderstorms and a ground stop at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.<\/p>\n
The dust storm advisory was in effect until\u00a07\u00a0<\/strong>p.m. Aug. 25 for several areas in the Valley, the National Weather Service’s Phoenix office\u00a0said.<\/p>\n This included Avondale and Goodyear near Interstate 10, Interstate 17 and U.S. 60 near Phoenix and Mesa, the weather service said.<\/p>\n Other locations impacted included Apache Junction, Chandler, Gilbert, Goodyear, Laveen, Maricopa, Tempe and Tolleson, according to a National Weather Service\u00a0forecast.<\/p>\n A severe thunderstorm warning was issued through 6:15 p.m. for Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Tempe, according to the weather service.<\/p>\n A\u00a0ground stop\u00a0was also issued at Phoenix Sky Harbor due to thunderstorms, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The ground stop was moved from active to possible after 6 p.m. and could last through 9 p.m., the FAA said. The average flight delay was an hour, as of 6:11 p.m.<\/p>\n Two flights were canceled, 172 flights were delayed and seven flights were diverted as of 6:35 p.m., the airport’s\u00a0website\u00a0said.<\/p>\n Dust and strong winds were hitting Tempe near Loop 101 and Southern Avenue at about 5:20 p.m. Rain hit the same area just before 5:30 p.m. while a strong storm struck an east Mesa neighborhood around the same time. Rain came to downtown Phoenix around 6 p.m.<\/p>\n Storm chances remained for Aug. 26 at 30 to 50%, though coverage won\u2019t be as widespread.\u00a0<\/p>\n A shift to a westerly flow later this week will bring drier air and clear out thunderstorm chances after Aug. 27, according to Tom Frieders, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Phoenix.<\/p>\n Monsoonal moisture could bring temperatures down, hovering in the low 100s or even high 90s through the week.<\/p>\n There were an estimated 65,792 Salt River Project customers experiencing outages, according to the company’s\u00a0outage map\u00a0as of shortly after 6 p.m. Aug. 25.<\/p>\n There were 11,435 APS customers in metro Phoenix experiencing outages, according to the company’s\u00a0website\u00a0as of shortly before 6:30 p.m. Aug. 25.<\/p>\n “Dust storms lead to dangerous driving conditions with visibility reduced to near zero. If driving, avoid dust storms if possible,” the weather service said. “If caught in one, pull off the road, turn off your lights and keep your foot off the brake.”<\/p>\n The Arizona Department of Transportation has helpful tips for drivers who may get stuck in a dust storm while driving. The “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” campaign aims to save drivers from dangerous situations by providing tips to survive a blowing dust event.<\/p>\n If you encounter a dust storm, immediately check traffic around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down. Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway – do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can.<\/p>\n