The Trump administration, through White House budget director Russ Vought, has announced the suspension of $2.1 billion earmarked for Chicago’s infrastructure projects. This action broadens a series of funding disputes primarily targeting Democratic-led regions during the ongoing government shutdown.
The decision directly impacts a crucial and long-anticipated project: the extension of Chicago’s Red Line train. Vought publicly stated on Friday that the funds were “put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting.”
This follows a similar announcement earlier in the week concerning New York, where Vought declared an $18 billion freeze on infrastructure, including funding for a new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River.
For Chicago, the loss of this funding would represent a significant blow to its public transportation ambitions. The proposed Red Line extension is designed to introduce four new train stops on the city’s South Side, a development intended to improve transit access for underserved communities. Furthermore, a wider modernization initiative for both the Red and Purple lines, also identified by Vought as targeted, aims to upgrade existing stations and alleviate a critical bottleneck where multiple lines converge.
Regarding New York’s projects, the Trump administration’s Transportation Department indicated that it was investigating potential “unconstitutional practices” within these large-scale infrastructure developments. However, the department claimed the government shutdown, which commenced on October 1, forced the furlough of staff responsible for these reviews.
The withholding of these funds is widely perceived as a strategic move to exert pressure on Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, whom the White House holds responsible for the current political gridlock. Schumer criticized the funding freeze, arguing it would negatively impact commuters. He asserted on social media platform X that “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.”