When asked about the new Hudson River tunnel and reports tying federal funding to the renaming of New York’s Penn Station, President Donald Trump pushed back. He said the renaming Penn Station idea was raised by others, not him. In a post to his Truth Social account, he also warned the federal government would not cover cost overruns for the project.

Trump repeated his opposition to the massive public-works effort to build another tunnel connecting New York and New Jersey. And he distanced himself from reports that his administration wanted to make funding contingent on renaming Penn Station and the Washington area’s Dulles International Airport after him.

Why the renaming Penn Station claim made headlines

News outlets had reported that the administration asked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to support renaming Penn Station and Dulles in exchange for releasing tunnel funds. Trump said those reports were inaccurate. And that the idea “was brought up by certain politicians and construction union heads, not me.”

A federal judge recently ordered the administration to release funds for the roughly $16 billion tunnel project. But the president said the federal government would not assume responsibility for any cost overruns.

“Please let this statement represent the fact that, under no circumstances, will the Federal Government be responsible for ANY COST OVERRUNS – NOT ONE DOLLAR!” he wrote

while also offering to meet to avoid such outcomes.

Trump distances himself and reiterates opposition to the tunnel

In his Truth Social post, Trump warned the Gateway tunnel project could become “financially catastrophic for the region” unless planning is improved. He used the post to reiterate his stance that the federal government would not cover future overrun costs. Also to deny that he proposed the renaming condition.

The post came after media reports that the administration had raised the renaming idea as part of lobbying for the tunnel funding. Trump said that notion was not his and attributed it to other political and union figures.

Administration actions and earlier funding freezes

The administration has repeatedly threatened the project’s funding. Last fall, White House budget director Russell Vought announced the administration was freezing money for the tunnel. Questioning whether allocations were being influenced by “unconstitutional DEI principles.”

Vought also announced cuts to billions of dollars allocated to projects in states carried by former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. A move noted alongside the tunnel funding dispute.

Media reports and responses

Reports from outlets including NBC News said the administration had sought Schumer’s support for the renaming plan tied to funding. Those stories sparked public attention and prompted Trump’s denial that he suggested renaming Penn Station or Dulles.

Trump’s statement aimed to clarify his position. He opposed the tunnel funding approach being taken, warned against federal responsibility for cost overruns. And said the renaming idea was floated by others, not the president himself.

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