Trump Allegedly Ties Gateway Tunnel Funding to Renaming of Penn Station and Dulles Airport

US President Donald Trump has reportedly attached an unusual condition to the release of billions of dollars in federal funding for the critical Gateway rail tunnel project linking New York and New Jersey, demanding that major landmarks be renamed in his honor.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, reports say Trump made the proposal during a meeting last month with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. According to the sources, Trump suggested that New York’s iconic Penn Station and Washington’s Dulles International Airport be renamed after him in exchange for releasing the funds. Schumer immediately rejected the idea, saying he does not have the authority to change the names of such facilities.

The Gateway Project, which involves constructing rail tunnels beneath the Hudson River to connect New York and New Jersey, carries an estimated cost of about $16 billion. Late last year, the Trump administration halted the release of federal funds for the project. Democratic leaders have accused the administration of withholding the money out of political retaliation. New York and New Jersey have since filed lawsuits against the Trump administration demanding the release of the funds.

Since returning to the White House, President Trump has pursued a broader effort to associate his name with various government initiatives. These include the so-called “Trump Gold Card,” a pathway to citizenship in exchange for a high financial contribution, a low-cost prescription drug website, and plans for a “Trump-class” warship, promoted as a symbol of his “peace through strength” doctrine. Trump has also reportedly sought to rename institutions such as the US Institute of Peace and the Kennedy Center.

The Gateway Development Commission has warned that construction on the tunnel project could be halted if funding is not released immediately, putting nearly 1,000 construction jobs at risk.

Separately, several Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to rename Washington Dulles International Airport as “Donald J. Trump International Airport,” though the proposal has yet to gain traction in Congress.

A spokesperson for Senator Schumer declined to comment on the matter, and the White House has not issued an official response.