Trump Seeks to Name Penn Station, Dulles Airport After Himself in Infrastructure Deal

President Trump offered to unfreeze $16 billion in funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project if Schumer agreed to the name changes.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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President Donald Trump reportedly told Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that he would be willing to unfreeze $16 billion in funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project connecting New York City and New Jersey if Schumer agreed to rename New York's Penn Station and Washington's Dulles Airport after Trump. Schumer rejected the offer, and the Gateway Development Commission has now filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, saying the government is contractually obligated to provide the grants and loans for the project.

Why it matters

The Hudson Tunnel Project is a critical infrastructure investment for the Northeast, and the funding freeze has put thousands of construction jobs at risk. Trump's reported demand to name major transportation hubs after himself in exchange for the funding raises concerns about the politicization of infrastructure projects and the president's tendency to seek personal branding opportunities, even for government-funded initiatives.

The details

The Hudson Tunnel Project includes building nine miles of new passenger rail track and rehabilitating the North River Tunnel. Officials in New York and New Jersey said if the $16 billion in funding is not released by Friday, the project would be forced to stop, jeopardizing around 1,000 construction jobs. The Gateway Development Commission has now filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing the government is contractually obligated to provide the grants and loans for the project.

  • The funding for the project was finalized in July 2024.
  • The Trump Administration announced it was halting further funding for the project amid the federal government's lengthy shutdown in October.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States who has sought to attach his name to various government-funded programs and buildings.

Chuck Schumer

The Senate Minority Leader who rejected Trump's offer to unfreeze the Hudson Tunnel Project funding in exchange for renaming Penn Station and Dulles Airport.

Gateway Development Commission

The commission responsible for the Hudson Tunnel Project that has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration over the funding freeze.

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What they’re saying

“This lawsuit would be unnecessary if President Trump did the right thing for New York and New Jersey and lifted his arbitrary freeze. Gateway is the most important infrastructure project in the country, and tens of thousands of union workers depend on it moving forward.”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader

“For Trump to put his name on federal buildings is arrogant and it is illegal. We must put an end to this narcissism -- and that's what this bill does.”

— Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator

What’s next

The judge in the federal lawsuit filed by the Gateway Development Commission will decide whether the Trump administration is contractually obligated to provide the $16 billion in funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project.

The takeaway

This story highlights the growing tension between the Trump administration's infrastructure priorities and the need for nonpartisan, community-focused investments. It also raises concerns about the president's tendency to seek personal branding opportunities, even for critical public works projects.