New York City’s plans to implement congestion pricing, a strategy aimed at reducing traffic and generating funds for public transit improvements, faces significant obstacles following the Trump administration’s refusal to provide clarification on the necessary environmental review process. The proposal, under review since March 2020 by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), requires a decision on whether a less involved environmental assessment or a more comprehensive environmental impact statement is needed. No decision has been made in over seven months.Officials from various levels expressed their dismay, emphasizing how pivotal the project is for the city’s future. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo criticized the delay as politically motivated, aimed at hindering New York, and urged the Federal Highway Administration to act quickly. Additionally, city leaders and state officials underscored the proposal’s potential to double mass transit system funding, reduce traffic by 20%, and potentially lower the region’s nitrogen oxide emissions and asthma rates. The congestion pricing plan, which could make New York the first U.S. city to follow the lead of global cities like London and Singapore in utilizing such an approach, involves charging fees to vehicles entering certain parts of the city during peak hours. Revenue generated would directly support vast improvements to the subway system, buses, and commuter rails.