"The pause affects a long-awaited plan to extend the city's Red Line train. The money was "put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting," budget director Russ Vought wrote on social media. Vought made a similar announcement earlier this week involving New York, where he said $18 billion for infrastructure would be paused, including funding for a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River."
"Losing the money would be a significant setback for Chicago's transportation plans. The Red Line extension is slated to add four train stops on the city's South Side, improving access for disadvantaged communities. In addition, a broader modernization project for the Red and Purple lines, which Vought said was also being targeted, is intended to upgrade stations and remove a bottleneck where different lines intersect."
"Trump, a Republican, has embraced Vought's tactics. On Thursday night, he posted a video depicting him as the reaper, wearing a hood and holding a scythe. In New York's case, Trump's Transportation Department said it had been reviewing whether any "unconstitutional practices" were occurring in the two massive infrastructure projects but that the government shutdown, which began Wednesday, had forced it to furlough the staffers conducting the review."
"The suspension of funds for the Hudson River tunnel project and a Second Avenue subway line extension is likely meant to target Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, whom the White House is blaming for the impasse. The New York senator said the funding freeze would harm commuters. "Obstructing these projects is stupid and counterproductive because they create tens of thousands of great jobs and are essential for a strong regional and"
Federal officials paused $2.1 billion in Chicago infrastructure funding, including money for the Red Line extension, citing concerns about race-based contracting. Budget director Russ Vought announced the hold on social media. The Red Line extension would add four South Side stops and improve access for disadvantaged communities. A broader modernization of the Red and Purple lines would upgrade stations and remove a bottleneck. Officials also paused roughly $18 billion in New York projects, including a Hudson River tunnel and a Second Avenue subway extension, while reviewing alleged unconstitutional practices. The government shutdown furloughed staff conducting reviews, and leaders warned the freezes would harm commuters and jobs.
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