00:00Donald Trump is reportedly leveraging $16 billion in withheld infrastructure funding to try to
00:05rename Washington Dulles International Airport and Penn Station after himself. The president's
00:09move, reported Thursday by Punchbowl News, relates to the Gateway Program, which is set to expand and
00:14renovate the Northeast Corridor rail line in New York City and New Jersey. Trump froze the funds
00:18last October during the government shutdown, prompting New York and New Jersey to file
00:22lawsuits over the stalled projects. According to four sources, Trump approached Senate Minority
00:26Leader Chuck Schumer on January 15th with a proposal he would release the billions in funding in
00:31exchange for Schumer's support for renaming both the airport and the train station. Schumer rejected
00:35the offer, saying he had no authority to implement such a change. A source close to Schumer told
00:39Punchbowl, there's nothing to trade. The president stopped the funding and can restart it with a snap
00:43of his fingers. The Moynihan train hall at Penn Station currently honors former Senator Daniel
00:47Patrick Moynihan, a longtime colleague of Schumer, who led the hall's construction and was widely
00:51praised for his legislative achievements. Trump has expressed interest in replacing Moynihan's name
00:56with his own, adding to other recent efforts to affix his name to public buildings, including
00:59the Kennedy Center and the U.S. Institute of Peace. Some Republican lawmakers have voiced
01:04support for legislation to rename Dulles International Airport as the Donald J. Trump International Airport.
01:09The Department of Transportation stated in December it would explore the revitalization of the airport,
01:14which Trump personally visited last October to assess future projects. Dulles, located 26 miles
01:19west of Washington, is named after former Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, who served under
01:24President Dwight Eisenhower. The proposal has sparked concern among local officials and lawmakers
01:28who argue that funding decisions should not be tied to personal vanity projects. Critics warn that
01:33withholding funds for major infrastructure improvements could delay critical transportation
01:37upgrades, affecting millions of daily commuters across New York. The White House and Schumer's
01:41office have declined further comment. Lawmakers continue to monitor the funding situation closely
01:45as the debate over renaming public facilities unfolds, while residents await clarity on when the
01:50Gateway Program's stalled improvements will resume. Stay informed on federal infrastructure funding
01:54and Gateway Program updates as negotiations continue.
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