The far-left Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, conducted an emotional press conference where she criticized President Donald Trump for his decision to abolish New York City’s burdensome congestion pricing. During her outburst, she likened the president to a monarch and pledged to resist him at all costs.
For context, on February 19, 2025, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy sent her a letter requesting the termination of the excessive tolls on New York City Highways, which varied from under a dollar to more than $35, depending on traffic conditions. The president has voiced concerns that these tolls adversely affect working-class Americans.
Regardless, the Governor’s peculiar outburst, which was shared on the same day as the letter, included dramatic statements regarding Trump. She commenced with, “At 1:01 pm today, the New York US Department of Transportation sent us a letter from Secretary Duffy announcing their effort to eliminate the congestion pricing program in the state of New York. At 1:58 pm, President Donald Trump tweeted Long live the king.”
Continuing her dramatic display, Hochul equated Trump to a sovereign. She remarked, “I’m here to declare that New York has not been under a king for over 250 years. We are certainly not going to start now, in the streets of the city where battles were fought. We stood up to a king, and we triumphed. Furthermore, in case you are unaware, New Yorkers, we are in a battle. We do not retreat, not now, not ever.
The debate was initiated by Sean Duffy’s correspondence, which highlighted that the congestion charges had exceeded their original purpose. He stated, “Dear Governor Hochul: I am reaching out to you regarding the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) endorsement of the Central Business District (CBD) Tolling Program (CBDTP)… According to the agreement, the FHWA sanctioned the CBDTP as a deviation from the standard prohibition against tolling on highways. The VPPP exception was ratified by Congress in 1991 as a pilot initiative to evaluate congestion alleviation strategies. New York is among the 15 States permitted to execute the program.
In addition to the letter, Duffy emphasized the effect of the charges on the working population. The transportation secretary remarked, “I align with the President’s worries regarding the effects on working-class Americans who are now faced with an extra financial obligation in their everyday lives. Users of the highway system within the CBD tolling zone have already contributed to the construction and enhancement of these highways through the payment of gas taxes and various other taxes.”
Observe Hochul’s reaction here:
Expanding on this matter, he clarified that numerous computers lack alternative options and are compelled to incur these exorbitant fees. Duffy further stated, “The recent implementation of the CBDTP pilot project on residents, businesses, and commuters has deprived highway users of any free highway alternatives for travel within the designated area. Additionally, the funds generated from this pilot program are allocated to the transit system rather than the highways utilized. I do not consider this arrangement to be equitable.”
In conclusion, Duffy articulated his reasons for advocating the termination of congestion pricing. He noted, “Considering the President’s apprehensions regarding the CBDTP pilot project, the legal disputes that have arisen, along with the concerns raised by New Jersey Governor Murphy and New Jersey Commissioner O’Connor, I have examined the tolling authority conferred under VPPP to the CBDTP pilot project to ensure compliance with Federal law. For the reasons outlined below, I have determined that the extent of this pilot project as sanctioned surpasses the authority granted by Congress under VPPP.”
