Chao acknowledges President trying to block funding for transit project

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In contentious exchanges with several lawmakers, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao acknowledged that President Trump is maneuvering to block funding for a multi-billion-dollar New York “Gateway Project” tunnel project, according to several news outlets including U.S. News and World Report.

Chao told a House committee that Trump is intervening to try to kill a pending effort to start the project. She said New York and New Jersey "have no skin in the game" and need to pony up more money to help pay for the project," which would build a new tunnel under the Hudson River and make other critical improvements to ease rail and transit congestion in the heavily trafficked region.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) fired back, saying he personally helped broker an agreement in which the two states pledged to cover 50% of the project's cost. For the full story, click here.