Recently, New York Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the importance of congestion pricing in Manhattan during a meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office at the White House, as the federal government has ordered a temporary halt to the plan.
According to the Associated Press, in their meeting, the two discussed not only traffic tolls but also issues such as immigration, infrastructure, economic development, energy, offshore wind power, and nuclear energy.
Hochul’s spokesperson, Avi Small, said that Hochul presented Trump with a booklet outlining the initial success of congestion pricing.
The plan, which began on January 5th of this year, imposes a $9 toll on most vehicles entering Manhattan south of Central Park. The initiative aimed to reduce the number of vehicles entering Manhattan while raising funds to improve public transportation. However, the Department of Transportation noted that while there was a slight decrease in traffic flow, the effects were not significant.
Despite the federal government’s order to suspend the plan on Wednesday, February 19th, the toll measures are still in operation due to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority filing a lawsuit. Hochul stressed that the measures will continue to be implemented until the lawsuit is resolved.
Following the announcement of the suspension, Trump took to social media, declaring, “Congestion pricing is dead, Manhattan and all of New York have been saved. Long live the king!” Subsequently, the White House released an image of Trump wearing a crown with the New York skyline in the background.
However, during a press conference at Grand Central Terminal, Hochul promptly responded, stating, “New York has never lived under the rule of a king in its 250-year history, and we will not start today.”
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy also announced that the federal government would withdraw its approval for the plan, criticizing the move as “a slap in the face to American workers and small business owners.”
Manhattan’s congestion pricing policy has sparked intense debate in New York society. Opponents mainly consist of suburban commuters and residents living in areas with inadequate subway service, while supporters believe the policy can effectively alleviate traffic congestion and reduce air pollution.
In addition, Hochul and the Trump administration have differences on other issues. Hochul criticized the Trump administration and the Department of Justice for attempting to overturn corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
This month, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also filed a lawsuit against Hochul and the state attorney general, alleging that state laws allowing undocumented migrants to obtain driver’s licenses are contrary to federal immigration enforcement efforts.
During the same month, Trump aide Elon Musk criticized the federal government for subsidizing immigrant hotel fees in New York City, leading to the suspension of subsidies and the dismissal of four federal employees; meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recouped over $80 million in immigrant housing costs from New York City, sparking related litigation.
At the same time, New York State Attorney General Letitia James and other Democratic state attorneys general have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration for issues including Musk’s department accessing sensitive personal data of Americans through federal payment systems and the government freezing federal funds.