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Apr 24th, 2025, 6:32 PM ET·Politics

DOJ Memo Undermines Trump Administration's Efforts to Block NYC's Congestion Pricing

An internal DOJ memo accidentally filed in court reveals doubts about the Trump administration's strategy to overturn NYC's congestion pricing.


Summary

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

A recently leaked internal memo from the DOJ suggests that the Trump administration's strategy to halt New York City's congestion pricing may be legally flawed. The memo acknowledged considerable risks and recommended alternative tactics for the Department of Transportation. The misfiled document coincided with tensions between the DOJ and the Transportation Department, leading to the reassignment of the lawyers involved. Critics argue that the congestion toll is a burden on working-class individuals. New York officials maintain that the program is essential for reducing traffic and funding public transit improvements.

Sources (5)

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  • CNN
  • The Trump administration's aggressive tactics against New York's congestion toll reflect a broader disdain for local governance and a lack of support for urban public transportation initiatives.
  • Critics argue that the administration's actions, which threaten funding for transportation projects, disproportionately harm working-class individuals and urban dwellers reliant on public transit.
  • The debate around the toll symbolizes deeper ideological divisions over infrastructure investment and the appropriate role of federal oversight in local policies.
In unintended filing, feds say Trump administration strategy to end New York toll is a losing battle | Politics
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"…The blunder came days after the Trump administration gave New York a third ultimatum to stop collecting the toll, which started in January and charges most drivers $9 to enter the most traffic-snarled part of the borough."

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DOJ Memo Undermines Trump Administration's Efforts to Block NYC's Congestion Pricing - Pano News