WASHINGTON — The Trump administration offered to release funds for the Hudson Tunnel project if New York Penn Station and Washington’s Dulles International Airport are renamed for President Donald Trump, according to multiple news reports.
ABC News, citing “two sources familiar with the conversation,” reports Trump made the offer to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) last month. Schumer rejected the offer, according to ABC; CNN reports Schumer told the president he did not have the power to deliver on the request.
CNN said a Schumer representative declined comment and the White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Among other sites reporting the offer are NBC, Politico, and Axios. They say Punchbowl News first reported the offer. That story is paywalled.
The federal government, which has committed to providing 70% of the funding for the $16 billion project, has been withholding funds since October. Officials with the Gateway Development Commission, which oversees the project, say work will have to halt as of today (Friday, Feb. 6) if funding is not released [see “Hudson Tunnel project could halt …,” Trains.com, Jan. 28, 2026]. The commission and the states of New York and New Jersey have filed lawsuits seeking to force the release of the money [see “New York, New Jersey sue …,” Feb. 4, 2026].
— To report news or errors, contact trainsnewswire@firecrown.com.
Replies:
Holte, I agree
Pins, I agree
Dexter, In the whole, agree. 1. Yes. 2. Why would Schumer NOT comment? This would be reinforcement of Holte’s view. I too am anxious about same, but why did Schumer NOT jump on this channce/point? 3. Agree. endmrw0210261353
Actually it was Schumer offering it to Trump trying to break loose the money, “Sources” say. The whole thing is big fat Dem joke. And the Legacy news BIT hook line and sinker…
“People are saying..” or “everyone is saying…” That’s an adult-equivalent of what we used to say as kids .. “everybody’s doing it.”
Absolutely crazy. Honor the history of the railroads
I believe Al Kalmbach and David P. Morgan would not be pleased with how their “inheritors” have reported this news item.
It’s now a day since anonymous “sources” broke this story, and, without further investigation, what I called the “usual suspects” ran with it, quoting each other. A Federal District judge has now ordered funds to flow, for the time being. I would think that “journalists” would have asked Sen. Schumer by now if, as a non-anonymous source who was there, and now has a legal victory, he could confirm the allegation.
If he would put his name on The Kennedy Center he could easily be making the above demands. He’s just that sick.
Nice Try, but no…
Actually, a judge in the 2nd District has ordered work to resume while “litigation” plays out. It will be interesting to follow what happens next.
I just finished reading a great book, Wise Guys and the White House. Great read and I learned a lot of things I did not know about the mob nor the white house. There is a chapter about Trump during his first term. I have determined that Trump thinks he is John Gotti. Similar personal traits, loud and bombastic. Look what it got the teflon don in the end.
You wouldn’t be doubting the sources if it was a Democrat but Trump toadies will never turn on their orange king. Between his preexisting mental health issues & now the dementia onset it’s time for the 25th Amendment to be set in motion, but his cabinet (enablers) find him too useful a tool for their wealthy oligarchic society plans. VP Vance should be in favor of advancing the Amendment it will be the only way he would ever be President!
If this story is true, Trump can kiss my support Goodbye…
It took you this long?
I don’t know if this story is true or not. Doesn’t matter. Trump lost me months ago.
Hmmm…ABC, CNN, NBC, Politico,, Axios. The usual suspects infected with TDS. Now Firecrown and “Trains Staff” have caught the virus? Dulles Airport thrown in to sweeten the pot? What Federal projects are being held up there? If the story turns out to be true, fellow posters, I’m with Mr.Walsh. If not, I will not renew my subscription to the former “The Magazine of Railroading.” It’s been fun.
It doesn’t take much to set a liberal’s hair on fire.
let’s put it this way—-Anyone who makes any opposition to this public ———————————–~~
For the sake of arguing, assume that this is a true story. The solution is put the Trump name on these two things. Once he is out of office remove the Trump name.
Nope, have to cut the toddler off at some point from grifting the American citizens.
“ABC News, citing “two sources familiar with the conversation,””
Unnamed sources, the highest indicator of fraud in the story. Why should anyone trust something like that?
Why on earth does Firecrown run with such a political hit piece of a story? It is Schumer that seems to be the only one talking about this at all. Schumer is in a political war with Trump, and truth is the first casualty of war.
Scott has a good point. Consider the headline (Firecrown publication). It is plain and simple…….ALTHOUGH the substance of it is based on unnamed sources.
WHAT? Why not file this “idea” in the “to be followed up” file. Until more verifiable information is abtained, this story IMHO, should not be repeated.
Please don’t give the excuse, “We wanted to be the first”. Given DJT and his personality I was not surprised, until I saw it was NOT verifiable. Kinda like yelling, “FIRE, in a crowded theater” endmrw0206261200
There has been many a story on Trains.com that said similar “two sources familiar with the conversation,” yet here we are with convicted felon supporters all in denial.
MARK — Four questions. (1) Have the supposed sources been named. (2) Has the White House been asked for its side of the story. (3) What do Trump’s felony convictions have to do with any of this. (4) Do you, Mark, realize that we railfans don’t have to deny the story, the journalists have to give supporting data.
Read my post. I didn’t deny the story. I said it hasn’t been proven to my satisfaction. And no I’m not a Trump supporter, I totally despise him. I’m someone who was raised by my parents to demand truth out of journalists.
Work on the Hudson Tunnel project is likely coming to an end even as I write this. Several major news organizations are reporting that President Trump is, in effect, holding the project hostage in order to get his name on Penn Station and Dulles Airport. Should Trains simply report “The Hudson Tunnel Project has stopped and we have no idea why?” Or should Trains report, “The Hudson Tunnel Project has stopped, and here’s what some major news organizations are saying.” I vote for the latter.
Trump doesn’t have any felony convictions Charles… They were over turned by Federal judges…
If, repeat if, the report is true (and we don’t know that it’s true), it would fit right in with what we know about Mr. Trump.
But as I said we don’t know that it’s valid information. Multiple sources can repeat the same nonsense. The same stuff out of several news sources, or ten million wagging tongues, don’t turn a lie into the truth.
We’re talking about trump. He’s a malignant narcissist who craves putting his name on things and I for one would not doubt it at all.
Preemptive challenge to Mr. Holte sitting on any jury I might be involved with.
In response to your 3 questions: 1) No, the supposed sources have not been named; that’s why they’re called unnamed sources in the story. The use of unnamed sources is not, as another poster claims, an indicator of fraud, but a standard reporting technique that has been used to report on the government since the Watergate Scandal. And it’s a practice not limited to reporters. President Trump himself frequently tries to support his arguments with references to unnamed sources by using the phrases “people are saying…” or “everyone is saying.” 2) Yes, the White House has been asked for its side of the story. As the original news item above says, “CNN said a Schumer representative declined comment and the White House did not respond to a request for comment.” In fairness, the White House press office probably had its hands full today trying to explain why a post shared on Mr. Trump’s social media feed depicted former President Obama and his wife as apes, so perhaps it will respond when the “ape” controversy cools down. 3) If the Trump Administration does indeed get around to denying this story, there will indeed be two sides to the story, leaving each reader to evaluate the relative credibility of each side. The Trump camp, of course, will immediately attack the credibility of the mainstream news media. It is not unfair then, to look for a comparison to the credibility of President Trump.