U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8) discussed the recent restoration of about $205 million in funding for the Hudson Tunnels portion of the larger, approximately $16 billion Gateway project to enhance rail travel throughout the New York Metropolitan area.

By Dan Israel/Hudson County View

In an interview with HCV in Hoboken after a presser about an unrelated federal funding allocation, Menendez said he knew that the states of New Jersey, New York, as well as the Gateway Development Commission, had strong legal ground to stand on.

“We always knew we were on the right side of this. We were ultimately going to prevail. It should have never come to this. The Trump Administration should have never withheld the funding,” he said the White House complying with the latest federal court ruling.

According to Menendez, it was clear the funding freeze was for political purposes, underscoring his confidence the court would side with them.

He said its time for the Trump Administration to recognize the value of the Hudson Tunnels project, which he called the most important infrastructure project in the entire country, and provide the funding as they are obligated to under the law.

“They should stop playing political games with it, so the hardworking men of organized labor who are on schedule and on budget can drive this project forward,” Menendez, who attended both of Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s (D) Gateway press conferences last week, added.

When asked if he thinks the saga is finally over, the two-term congressman made it clear he trusts nothing coming from Trump at this point and will therefore remain weary of the situation in case further political antics ensue.

“I don’t trust the Trump Administration at all, on any number of things, but including the release of congressionally appropriated funds. It’s something we’re going to constantly be vigilant about, making sure that they don’t play future games with it,” Menendez stated.

He further stated that he was against any type of concession to Trump in the form of renaming Penn Station in New York or Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. after himself, which the president never said publicly but has been cited in numerous news reports.

Menendez added that appeasing him would only lead to more political demands by the president.

“This is one of the reasons I was so against the idea that he would want to put his name on Penn Station. Because then there would be Dulles Airport, and there’ll be this, and he’ll always be moving the goal post. That’s not how government is supposed to work.”

According to Menendez, all levels of government should work together for their constituents, especially on massive infrastructure projects like the Hudson Tunnels.

He emphasized cooperation over retaliation, although that has been the opposite of Trump’s modus operandi during his second term in the Democratic House member’s eyes.

“Government is supposed to work on days like today: I did my job getting $850,000 for the City of Hoboken. Mayor Jabbour is doing her job moving this project forward. That’s how it’s supposed to work where all levels of government work together,” Menendez explained.

He also pointed out the silence by New Jersey Republicans such as U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-7) as Trump plays games with “the most important infrastructure project in the country.”

He said this would be viewed as “traditionally unprudent … and pushed back on by everyone,” including Republicans across the aisle- but this is not the reality.

“I think he’s going to try to use anything that he can for political leverage: It’s an absolute shame, but that’s the type of president we have,” Menendez concluded.

In September of last year, Trump and his administration froze congressionally appropriated funding for the Hudson Tunnels, prompting a work stoppage and over 1,000 layoffs of project laborers.

This lead to the aforementioned legal challenges, which eventually saw U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas, of the Southern District of New York, overturn the freeze after four months and demand the monies be released so the project can continue.

As the battle for federal funding moved to the legal arena, local and county governments in the area rallied for the money to flow again so that construction workers and related laborers can return to their jobs.

This includes the support of the Hudson County Board of Commissioners, the Kearny Town Council, and others, joining calls for Trump to stop playing games with vital multi-state infrastructure and union jobs for political gain.

Despite that court order,  Trump has since doubled down on his opposition to the project, according to a post on Truth Social, calling it a “future boondoggle” that “will cost many BILLIONS OF DOLLARS more than projected” and would be “financially catastrophic for the region, unless hard work and proper planning is done, NOW.”

His Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, will appeal the decision and may be heard by a judge in the 2nd Circuit as early as next week, while Trump has indicated his willingness to meet with local officials to discuss the project, Politico reported.