Congressman Nick LaLota, Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, and members of the New York and New Jersey Congressional Delegations have sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. They expressed gratitude for their efforts in opposing New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s congestion pricing plan, which they describe as an unfair tax on commuters.
Rep. LaLota criticized the plan, stating, “Hochul’s commuter tax was never about improving transit—it’s about squeezing hardworking suburban families to paper over the MTA’s bloated, mismanaged budget.” He added his support for President Trump and Secretary Duffy in blocking the proposal.
Chairwoman Stefanik also voiced her opposition: “I stand strongly with President Donald Trump, Secretary Sean Duffy, and my fellow New Yorkers fighting Kathy Hochul’s insane and costly congestion pricing tax scheme that harms New York workers and families.”
Rep. Andrew Garbarino called the plan a “shameless cash grab” and expressed appreciation for Trump’s administration’s stance against it. Rep. Mike Lawler thanked Trump and Duffy for opposing what he termed Hochul’s “disgraceful commuter tax scheme.”
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis highlighted issues with the MTA’s management, stating that “The Trump Administration is right” in its actions against the tax.
Congressman Kean emphasized that since January 5th, commuters from New Jersey have been adversely affected by this plan: “We must put an end to this extremely dysfunctional program.”
Finally, Congressman Langworthy praised Trump and Duffy for their commitment to stopping what he described as a “deeply flawed commuter tax scheme.”
The letter underscored concerns over public safety within New York’s transit system and criticized the MTA’s financial management while stressing potential negative impacts on suburban communities due to congestion pricing.
New York City’s Central Business District Tolling Program is part of Governor Hochul’s broader congestion pricing initiative aimed at charging vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street. This program commenced on January 5, 2025.
In November 2024, LaLota along with former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito and others had already reached out to President Trump urging him to halt the implementation of this congestion pricing plan.
