White House puts hold on $18bn for New York rail tunnel and subway expansion

Trump budget director blamed ‘DEI principles’ while another official pointed to the government shutdown

The Trump administration said on Wednesday that it was putting a hold on roughly $18bn to fund a new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey and the city’s expanded Second Avenue subway project – because of the government shutdown.

The White House budget director, Russell Vought, said on a post on X that the step was taken due to the Republican administration’s belief that the money was “based on unconstitutional DEI principles”, a reference to diversity, equity and inclusion.