White House budget director Russell Vought stated that the Trump administration will withhold 2.1 billion dollars for infrastructure projects in Chicago, due to a funding battle targeting Democratic areas during the government shutdown, ABC7 reports.
The pause affects the long-awaited plan to expand the city’s Red Line train route. Vought wrote on social media Friday that the money was “put on hold to ensure that funding does not flow through contracting based on race.”
He issued a similar statement earlier this week regarding New York, where Vought said 18 billion dollars for infrastructure would be paused, including funding for a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River.
$2.1 billion in Chicago infrastructure projects–specifically the Red Line Extension and the Red and Purple Modernization Project–have been put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting. More info to come soon from @USDOT.
— Russ Vought (@russvought) October 3, 2025
In the case of New York, Trump’s Department of Transportation said it was reviewing whether any “unconstitutional practices” were occurring in two massive infrastructure projects, but that the shutdown, which began Wednesday, forced them to dismiss the staff conducting the review.
The suspension of funds is likely aimed at Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, whom the White House blames for the shutdown. He said that freezing the funding would harm commuters.
“Blocking these projects is foolish and counterproductive because they create tens of thousands of great jobs and are crucial for a strong regional and national economy,” Schumer said on X.
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Source:ABC7 Chicago; Foto: Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead