Trump Kills Manhattan’s Congestion Toll, Hochul Vows Legal Fight

President Donald Trump’s administration has blocked New York City’s congestion pricing plan, striking down a toll that critics said unfairly targeted working-class commuters. The move has outraged Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has pledged to challenge the decision in federal court.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to Hochul informing her of the administration’s decision, calling the toll an “unfair” burden on small businesses and working families. The plan, which had gone into effect in January, charged drivers $9 to enter Manhattan’s Central Business District.

Duffy argued that New Yorkers had already paid for their roads through existing taxes and that they should not be forced to pay additional fees just to use them. He also noted that the toll disproportionately affected businesses that rely on customers from New Jersey and Connecticut.

Trump celebrated the move on Truth Social with his usual flair, posting, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD… LONG LIVE THE KING!” Hochul, in response, took to social media to condemn the decision, writing, “We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king.”

The MTA, which had counted on billions in revenue from the toll, quickly filed a lawsuit to challenge the administration’s ruling. Hochul defended the plan as essential for funding public transit, but many New Yorkers saw it as yet another tax on already overburdened commuters.

Though the legal battle is just beginning, the Trump administration’s decision has given many drivers and small business owners a reason to celebrate. For now, New Yorkers won’t have to pay extra just to get to work in their own city.

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