Trump Ties Gateway Tunnel Funding To Naming Demands

In a move that has reignited debate over political legacy and infrastructure priorities, President Donald Trump has tied the release of billions in federal funding for the critical Gateway rail tunnel project to a controversial demand: rename both Washington Dulles International Airport and New York’s Penn Station after him. The proposal, first reported by Punchbowl News and corroborated by The New York Times, has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers and raised questions about the intersection of public works and personal branding at the highest levels of government.

According to multiple sources familiar with private discussions, top Trump administration officials informed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, that the frozen funds for the $16 billion Gateway tunnel project would be released if he supported renaming the two iconic transportation hubs in Trump’s honor. The offer, made in the midst of ongoing negotiations over the project’s fate, underscores the president’s growing focus on cementing his name in American infrastructure—and his willingness to use federal purse strings as leverage.

The Gateway project, which centers on constructing a new two-track tunnel under the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, is considered the nation’s largest and most urgent transportation infrastructure initiative. The existing 116-year-old tunnels, battered by age and Superstorm Sandy, have become a notorious bottleneck on the Northeast Corridor, the busiest passenger rail line in the United States. Supporters warn that without the new tunnel, a major disruption could cripple rail service around New York City, with ripple effects for the entire national economy.

Federal funding for Gateway, expected to cover about $12 billion of the total cost, was abruptly suspended by the Transportation Department in October 2025. The official reason, as stated by the department, was to review project contracts for compliance with new federal rules targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. But the timing—coming in the middle of a 43-day government shutdown—sparked suspicions among New York and New Jersey officials that the freeze was intended to pressure Democratic leaders, particularly Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, into making concessions.

In January 2026, Schumer met with Trump at the White House to discuss the impasse. But, as reported by sources close to the talks, Schumer rebuffed the president’s request to support the renaming of Penn Station and Dulles Airport. The senator has no direct oversight over either facility: Penn Station is owned by Amtrak, while Dulles is federally owned but governed by a regional board. A bill to rename Dulles after Trump, introduced by some House Republicans, has not advanced in Congress.

With no deal in sight, the Gateway Development Commission—the agency overseeing tunnel construction—filed suit against the federal government this week, seeking $205 million in unpaid expenses. The states of New York and New Jersey launched a separate legal challenge in federal court. As the standoff dragged on, the commission was forced to halt nearly all work on the tunnel as of February 6, 2026, putting roughly 1,000 construction workers at risk of losing their jobs. More than $1 billion has already been spent on the project, and workers spent the final days securing equipment and preparing for an indefinite pause.

Governor Kathy Hochul of New York did not mince words in her response. "Work on the Gateway Tunnel is now halted, with federal funding still frozen. Thousands of jobs on the line. Billions in economic benefits at risk. All because Donald Trump is on a revenge tour," she said on Friday, as quoted by The New York Times. The economic stakes are high: the Northeast Corridor is a vital artery for both commuters and freight, and delays or disruptions could have far-reaching consequences.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, also a Democrat from New York, lambasted the administration’s tactics. "These naming rights aren’t tradable as part of any negotiations, and neither is the dignity of New Yorkers," she declared on social media, demanding that the president "put people first and unfreeze this project and all the others his administration has been holding hostage for his personal gain." Her remarks reflect a broader frustration among Democratic lawmakers who view the demand as an inappropriate use of executive power.

On the ground, the mood among workers was somber. Guido Rivieccio, a shop steward for Local 731 of the Laborers’ Union, described the scene at a Manhattan construction site: crews were "wrapping everything up," laying down cranes and draining utility lines to prevent freezing, unsure whether the pause would last days or months. Thomas Prendergast, chief executive of the Gateway commission, noted that some workers would remain to safeguard completed work and steer ships away from the site, but the future remained uncertain.

The Trump administration’s penchant for affixing the president’s name to public projects is well documented. Beyond his real estate ventures, Trump has recently put his stamp on the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and new public-facing federal initiatives like TrumpRx, a government website to help Americans buy prescription drugs. According to The New York Times, the administration solicited proposals in December 2025 to renovate Dulles Airport, further fueling speculation about Trump’s legacy-building ambitions.

Despite the president’s efforts, Schumer and other Democratic leaders have limited authority over the naming of major transportation hubs. Any change to Penn Station would require action by Amtrak, while Dulles Airport’s name is ultimately a matter for Congress or its governing board. The White House and Department of Transportation have declined to comment directly on the private negotiations, but the administration has publicly blamed Democrats for the funding impasse, pointing to their refusal to negotiate on other policy issues, including immigration.

As the legal battles play out and political tensions simmer, the fate of the Gateway project—and the livelihoods of thousands of workers—hangs in the balance. The episode has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over the use of federal power, the role of personal legacy in public policy, and the urgent need to modernize America’s infrastructure.

For now, the trains may slow, but the political drama shows no signs of stopping.