New York Attorney General Letitia James said a court order requiring the federal government to release more than $200 million for the Gateway Program’s Hudson Tunnel project is now in effect, clearing the way for long-delayed funding to move forward.
James issued a statement after her office secured the order, which directs the federal government to release funds tied to the Hudson Tunnel project, a central component of the broader Gateway Program.
“The court’s order is now in effect, and the federal government must immediately release funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project,” James said.
She added, “This administration never had the authority to freeze this funding, and it no longer has any excuse to delay.”
James said her office expects swift action from federal officials. “We expect full compliance with the court’s order and the prompt delivery of the funds needed to keep workers on the job and this critical project moving forward,” she said.
The lawsuit was filed on Feb. 3 by James and New Jersey Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. The legal challenge targeted what the attorneys general described as a months-long freeze on all federal funding for the Hudson Tunnel project.
The Hudson Tunnel project is designed to rehabilitate and expand rail capacity between New York and New Jersey, addressing aging infrastructure that serves hundreds of thousands of commuters each day. Supporters have said delays in funding could stall construction timelines and affect jobs tied to the project.
With the court order now in effect, state officials say they are focused on ensuring the funds are released without further delay and that work on the tunnel proceeds as planned.
