NYC Congestion Pricing Overturned: Trump’s Royal Declaration
On February 19, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the federal government’s decision to halt New York City’s congestion pricing plan, a program designed to reduce traffic in Manhattan by imposing additional tolls. In a celebratory post on Truth Social, he declared, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”
This self-referential “king” remark has drawn significant criticism from various political figures. New York Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the importance of public transit for the city’s economy and announced legal action to reinstate the program, stating, “New York hasn’t labored under a king in over 250 years.”
Other politicians, including New York City Council member Justin Brannan, Virginia Representative Don Beyer, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, also condemned Trump’s comments, reiterating that the United States operates under laws, not monarchical rule.
The congestion pricing plan, initially approved during the Biden administration, aimed to alleviate Manhattan’s traffic congestion and generate revenue for public transportation improvements. However, the Trump administration’s revocation of federal approval has led to legal challenges, with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) suing the federal government to reinstate the program.
