The administration has demanded the tolling program end by late May, arguing that it unfairly burdens working-class commuters.
The Trump administration renewed its threats against New York over congestion pricing on Monday, demanding that the state halt the tolling plan or risk the loss of federal funding and approvals for other transportation projects.
Sean Duffy, the U.S. secretary of transportation, wrote in a letter addressed to Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York that she had until May 21 to explain why his department should not make good on its threats. Penalties for not ending the toll would begin May 28.
“The federal government sends billions to New York — but we won’t foot the bill if Governor Hochul continues to implement an illegal toll to backfill the budget of New York’s failing transit system,” Mr. Duffy said in the letter. “We are giving New York one last chance to turn back or prove their actions are not illegal.”
The heightened threats come after Governor Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates the tolling program, twice defied demands to stop the tolls, which began on Jan. 5. The program was approved by the Biden administration in November, after years of planning and review, and some legal experts have argued that the Trump administration does not have the authority to unilaterally revoke its authorization.
Congestion pricing — designed to reduce gridlock, cut pollution and fund critical transit projects — charges most drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street during peak traffic times.
The authority and several other parties sued to prevent the Trump administration from interfering with the program almost immediately after a Feb. 19 letter from Mr. Duffy seeking to kill the toll.
