WASHINGTON — In a sharp move amid a government shutdown, President Trump freezes $2.1 billion in funds for Chicago in shutdown standoff, targeting transit projects in a Democratic-run city. The freeze affects projects like the Red Line extension and Red-Purple modernization.
Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said the funds were halted to prevent “race-based contracting.” He claimed the administration must review whether funds comply with new rules.
Trump freezes $2.1 billion in funds for Chicago in shutdown standoff as part of a broader strategy. Earlier, the administration froze $18 billion for transit projects in New York.
Chicago and Illinois officials have voiced frustration. The city’s transit authority says delays will hurt underserved communities. The Red Line extension was meant to improve access to the Far South Side.
Federal transportation officials are holding a $300 million reimbursement payment pending the review. They say they want to ensure legal compliance before disbursing more cash.
Some critics call the funding freeze political leverage. They argue Trump is using infrastructure as a bargaining chip in the budget fight against Democratic lawmakers. Others defend the move as enforcing fairness in federal contracting.
The shutdown standoff continues, with each side blaming the other for impasse. Democrats accuse Trump of punishing blue states. Republicans say they are defending constitutional principles and fiscal discipline.
Trump freezes $2.1 billion in funds for Chicago in shutdown standoff, raising stakes in a city with high dependence on federal infrastructure support. Chicago’s mayor and state leaders are likely to take legal steps.
Transit advocates fear that work stoppages, contract cancellations, and cost overruns will follow. Delays may push timelines back months or more.
As the political fight intensifies, public pressure grows. Citizens in Chicago worry whether the transit expansion will ever materialize.
In sum, the action shows how deeply infrastructure funding has become politicized in this shutdown. The fate of those projects now hinges on negotiations in Congress and potential court challenges.
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