White House budget director Russ Vought said funding for two infrastructure projects in New York City is on hold due to the government shutdown, which he blamed on two New York Democrats with leadership roles in Congress.
“Roughly $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects have been put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing based on unconstitutional [diversity, equity and inclusion] principles,” Mr. Vought wrote on X Wednesday.
The money was slated to fund the city’s Hudson Tunnel and Second Avenue subway projects.
The Department of Transportation said Wednesday that it sent letters to New York informing state officials that the two projects are under review to “determine whether any unconstitutional practices are occurring.”
“USDOT issued an interim final rule barring race- and sex-based contracting requirements from federal grants,” the department said in a release. “Secretary [Sean] Duffy’s position on the [Disadvantaged Business Enterprise] program is clear — subsidizing infrastructure contracts with taxpayer dollars based on discriminatory principles is unconstitutional, counter to civil rights laws, and a waste of taxpayer resources.”
It said the department is focusing on these projects due to their magnitude. Funding will be held until the review is complete, which includes a $300 million disbursement for the subway project.
Wednesday is the first day of the government shutdown, which the Trump administration and Republicans blame on the top Democrats, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, over their insistence on health care provisions, including for illegal immigrants, in the spending bill.
Both Mr. Schumer and Mr. Jeffries represent New York.
“Thanks to the Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries shutdown, however, USDOT’s review of New York’s unconstitutional practices will take more time,” the department’s release said. “Without a budget, the department has been forced to furlough the civil rights staff responsible for conducting this review.
“This is another unfortunate casualty of radical Democrats’ reckless decision to hold the federal government hostage to give illegal immigrants benefits.”
In response, Mr. Jeffries said of Mr. Vought, “Again with this guy (and his baseless threats).”
“Russ, you are the poster child for privilege and mediocrity,” he wrote on X. “Get lost.”
Mr. Schumer called the projects “vital” and said the pause on funding “royally screws 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 national economy,” he said in an X post.
He said later that Mr. Vought is using “New Yorkers and New Jersey-ites as pawns.”
“It’s a disgusting thing and it shows how little regard Vought and Trump have for working families,” he said.
Vice President J.D. Vance said Wednesday that he’s “sure that Russ is heartbroken about the fact that he’s unable to give certain things to certain constituencies.”
“We want to do everything we can to help the American people, but when the Democrats shut down the government, we have to actually do a little triage to make sure the most critical and most essential services are provided,” Mr. Vance said in the press briefing room.
Democrats demand a continuation of Obamacare subsidies that were expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and set to expire at the end of this year. The Trump administration and other GOP leaders say the Democrats demand free health care for migrants.
“This is a lie. Not a single federal dollar goes to providing health insurance for undocumented immigrants. NOT. ONE. PENNY,” Mr. Schumer posted Tuesday on X. “Republicans would rather lie and shut down the government down than protect your health care.”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.