Gov. Kathy Hochul met with President Trump at the White House on Friday, where she highlighted the success of congestion pricing—just a day after the Trump administration announced plans to end the program.
Hochul and Trump met in the Oval Office for over an hour, engaging in what her office described as a “frank, candid conversation about New York’s key priorities, including congestion pricing, immigration, infrastructure, economic development, energy, offshore wind, and nuclear power,” according to Hochul spokesman Avi Small on Saturday.
During the meeting, Hochul presented Trump with “a booklet on the early success of congestion pricing,” Small added. However, he declined to provide further details, stating that the discussion was private.
The meeting occurred shortly after the Hochul-controlled Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) filed a lawsuit on Thursday to challenge the Trump administration’s attempt to halt congestion tolling for drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street. This legal action followed a letter from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy notifying Hochul of the administration’s plans.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber has defended the tolling program, calling the administration’s efforts “baseless” and vowing to resist the move.
President Trump declined to elaborate on the meeting or the topic of congestion pricing. White House representatives were not immediately available for comment on Saturday.
