Trump Reportedly Links Gateway Tunnel Funding to Renaming of Dulles Airport and Penn Station
President Donald Trump has reportedly told Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that he would be willing to unfreeze billions of dollars in federal funding for a critical infrastructure project in New York only if Schumer agrees to rename two major transportation hubs after him.
According to reports first published by Punchbowl News and subsequently confirmed by other major outlets, the President proposed the arrangement during a conversation with the New York senator last month. The deal would require Schumer’s support in renaming Washington Dulles International Airport and New York City’s Penn Station as “Donald J. Trump International Airport” and “Trump Station” respectively. In exchange, the administration would release approximately $16 billion in grants and loans allocated for the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project.
The Gateway project, which involves building a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River and rehabilitating existing century-old tunnels, is considered one of the most urgent infrastructure priorities in the United States. Funding for the project was frozen by the White House in October 2025 during a government shutdown. Although the shutdown ended in November, the funds have remained withheld.
Sources familiar with the exchange indicate that Schumer swiftly rejected the offer, informing the President that he lacked the unilateral authority to rename the landmarks. Penn Station is owned by Amtrak, while Dulles is managed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, making the request legally and logistically complex.
The standoff has escalated tensions between the White House and officials in New York and New Jersey. Earlier this week, the Gateway Development Commission filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the federal government is contractually obligated to provide the finalized grants. The commission warned that without the release of funds by Friday, February 6, construction on the project would halt, jeopardizing over 1,000 construction jobs.
Democratic lawmakers have reacted sharply to the reports. Representative Jerry Nadler, whose district includes Penn Station, characterized the proposal as an “extortion racket,” while others criticized the prioritization of naming rights over essential infrastructure repairs. The White House has not officially commented on the specific details of the conversation.
* straitstimes.com
* forbes.com
* nationalreview.com
* 6sqft.com
* 9news.com
* wmexboston.com
* whbc.com
* axios.com
