Washington, Feb. 6 — U.S. President Donald Trump allegedly proposed renaming Washington Dulles International Airport and New York’s Penn Station after himself as part of negotiations to unlock federal funding for the Gateway rail project, according to U.S. media reports citing anonymous sources.
The proposal was reportedly communicated by administration officials to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumerduring talks aimed at restoring roughly $16 billion in federal funds for the Gateway project, which includes a new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River connecting New York and New Jersey.
Schumer rejected the suggestion, sources familiar with the discussions told Politico, arguing that the president has the authority to reinstate the funding at any time without such conditions.
The White House has not publicly commented on the reports.
Meanwhile, the states of New York and New Jersey filed a lawsuit this week seeking the immediate release of the frozen funds. In October, the U.S. Department of Transportation halted approximately $18 billion affecting the Gateway Program and other infrastructure initiatives, citing concerns tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies under Democratic-led governments.
Since returning to office in January 2025, the Trump administration has moved aggressively to roll back DEI programs across federal agencies.
State attorneys general asked a New York court to block the Transportation Department from continuing to withhold the money, warning that delays could drive up costs and threaten jobs. The Gateway project—considered critical to the Northeast rail corridor—calls for a new tunnel and modernization of existing infrastructure beneath the Hudson. Media reports estimate that a prolonged pause could put about 1,000 jobs at risk.
The reported renaming would have affected Washington Dulles International Airport and Penn Station, two of the nation’s busiest transportation hubs.
