Story perspectives

Trump Slams Gateway Tunnel Project, Freezes Key Funding

2/17/2026

Summary

Trump's Tunnel Critique

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the Gateway Tunnel project on social media, calling it a "boondoggle" and denying allegations that he offered to release funding for renaming Penn Station and Dulles Airport after himself.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said the project was on track until federal funding was frozen by Trump's administration, costing about 1,000 jobs.
The Gateway Development Commission is pursuing legal action to secure the withheld funds.

Summary

ICE Expands Operations

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is partially shut down amid a funding dispute.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is expanding its operations with an additional $75 billion.
ICE is reviving the 287(g) Task Force Model, which lets local police enforce immigration laws.
As of January, there are 1,372 287(g) agreements across 1,169 agencies.
Funding under this model could reach $3.6 billion by 2027, increasing immigration-enforcement powers.

History

Historical Context

The Gateway Tunnel project, initiated by Amtrak in 2011, aims to enhance rail capacity between New Jersey and New York. However, in 2018, federal funding was halted, jeopardizing around 1,000 jobs. This funding dispute mirrors past conflicts, such as the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which allocated $787 billion for infrastructure, highlighting ongoing challenges in federal-state funding negotiations.

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Trump's Tunnel Critique

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the Gateway Tunnel project on social media, calling it a "boondoggle" and denying allegations that he offered to release funding for renaming Penn Station and Dulles Airport after himself.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said the project was on track until federal funding was frozen by Trump's administration, costing about 1,000 jobs.
The Gateway Development Commission is pursuing legal action to secure the withheld funds.

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