“Hundreds laid off — because Donald Trump is out of control,” Buttigieg says as Gateway tunnel funding fight heads to court
NEW YORK — Pete Buttigieg, the former U.S. transportation secretary and a leading Democratic voice, is blaming President Donald Trump for a sudden stoppage on the Gateway Program, the massive rail project meant to expand capacity and replace the aging Hudson River tunnel used by Amtrak and New Jersey Transit. Buttigieg said Friday that construction “came to a halt” and “hundreds” of workers were laid off because the Trump administration is withholding federal funding tied to the project, which connects New York City and New Jersey and is widely viewed as one of the country’s most consequential transportation choke points.
Today, construction on the nation’s largest infrastructure project came to a halt – with hundreds laid off – because Donald Trump is out of control.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) February 7, 2026
The good news: political pressure still works, and we can use our voices to make sure he doesn’t have the last word. pic.twitter.com/Lc4t1ZOhnJ
The immediate flashpoint is money already committed to the project that state and project leaders say has been frozen in recent months. Officials overseeing Gateway have warned that reimbursements and federal support are essential to keep contractors working, and they have argued that stopping the flow of funds forces crews to demobilize — a move that can add costs even if work later resumes. Buttigieg’s message also framed the situation as a test of political pressure, urging the public to keep contacting elected officials and pushing back.
The Trump administration, however, has defended its actions as a compliance and policy dispute rather than a political standoff. Federal officials have said the funding pause is tied to concerns about contracting and related requirements, and administration lawyers have argued the executive branch has authority to review and withhold payments under certain conditions. Democrats and project leaders reject that justification and have accused the White House of using the project as leverage in a broader fight with Democratic leaders in New York and New Jersey.
The dispute has moved quickly through the courts. A federal judge in New York ordered the administration to restore funding in a ruling issued as project officials warned construction would be suspended. But the legal fight did not end there: the government sought emergency relief while it appealed, and the judge temporarily paused enforcement to give a higher court time to review the request. As a result, the project’s work status has been tied to a fast-moving series of court orders and filings, with the possibility of stop-start construction depending on what happens next.
Gateway’s stakes extend far beyond regional politics. The existing century-old Hudson River tunnel was heavily damaged during Hurricane Sandy and remains a critical artery for passenger rail traffic in the Northeast. Project backers say extended delays could increase the risk of major service disruptions and widen economic fallout for commuters and businesses that depend on reliable rail access into Manhattan.
Buttigieg’s post reflects how the fight is turning into a national political story as well as a courtroom battle: Democrats are portraying the freeze as reckless and punitive, while Republicans and the administration argue it is justified oversight. For now, the question of when crews fully return — and whether funding continues uninterrupted — is likely to be answered not by campaign messaging but by the next court decision and the next move from federal transportation officials.
