Passenger Trains > US appeals order to fund the Gateway Tunnel

President Trump has appealed a court order which required him to fund the Amtrak Gateway Tunnel between New Jersey and New York.  Mr Trump has said that the tunnel is the result of Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives. He's lost four times on the issue, but funding has been frozen again. The current proposal is he will release the funds if Dulles Airport and New York's Penn Station are named after him.


https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/transportation/2026/08/31/gateway-rail-tunnel-funding-donald-trump-hudson-river/91549631007/

Those tunnels are sorely needed.  Can you imagine what would happen if the existing ancient tunnels failed?  Too bad personal politics is jeopardizing the welfare of literally millions of people.

Stan Praisewater

Yes, politics can help you or hurt you.  A real two-edged sword.

We can all thank our lucky stars--that Musk and his chainsaw was
dismissed before he got to Amtrak.

My understanding is the work on the Tunnel continues. The boring machines are boring, the excavated material is being hauled away, etc. The direct impact of this order is to block the next round of work on the project.   With some money actually transferred to the construction account, there's enough $ to carry it thru the end of 2026.

Politics often lets clearly known expectations get kicked down the road until the 11th hour. And then a crisis forces some half-a** compromise, that moves the expectations a little way. Trade deficits, social security, Medicare,  Amtrak corporate discipline, etc.