"There is still no true governing philosophy of the second Trump administration. It is, on any given day, radically libertarian or obsessively protectionist. The economy is sputtering, and Donald Trump doesn't seem to care. He's got scores to settle and vendettas to execute. And he's empowered enough sinister ideologues, from Stephen Miller to Russell Vought, to make this redux as painful as can be."
"Of late, Vought, his hard-right budget director, has withheld tens of billions in federal dollars from New York and Chicago for major rail and tunnel projects that will benefit many millions of people, including those who vote Republican. Vought is pausing $18 billion in funds already awarded to New York to complete a desperately needed rail tunnel under the Hudson River and extend the Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem. In Chicago, he's blocking $2.1 billion for rail extensions and modernizations."
Absent a coherent governing philosophy, the second Trump administration alternates between radical libertarianism and obsessive protectionism. The economy is sputtering while Trump pursues personal scores and vendettas and empowers hard-right ideologues such as Stephen Miller and Russell Vought. Vought has withheld tens of billions in federal dollars for major rail and tunnel projects in New York and Chicago, pausing $18 billion for a Hudson River rail tunnel and Second Avenue Subway extension and blocking $2.1 billion for Chicago rail modernization. The stated rationale cites compliance with an anti-DEI policy, a rationale described as racist, nonsensical, and possibly a negotiating ploy in fights with Democratic leaders representing New York.
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