President Donald Trump will nominate former Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro, an outspoken opponent of congestion pricing, to lead the Federal Transit Administration, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Although no official announcement has been made, Molinaro would report to Secretary of Transportation nominee Sean Duffy, who is expected to be officially confirmed this week. The FTA, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, oversees the mass transit systems around the U.S. and controls about $20 billion a year in grant funding.
The issue of congestion pricing has divided Democrats in the tri-state area, with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul pushing the measure and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy calling the program "a disaster" and urging Trump to eliminate the tolls.
On Jan. 5, New York City debuted its long-debated plan to charge most motorists $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street in an effort to reduce traffic congestion. Earlier in the month, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees congestion pricing, released data showing that traffic declined in the first week as tens of thousands of fewer vehicles traveled into the congestion zone.
The program isn't popular in the suburbs of New York, where 60% oppose the governor's signature legislation, according to a December survey from Sienna College. Yet as recently as last week, Hochul remained committed.
"What I want to do for the suburbs — the Hudson Valley — is to shave time off the commute,” Hochul said, reminding voters that she reduced the pricing from $15 to $9.
Molinaro last week voiced his support in reversing Hochul's legislation.
"There is a clear path to undoing the State's cash grab. The MTA is in desperate need of reform, transparency & accountability," Molinaro posted on X. "Hardworking NYers & New Jerseyans aren't an ATM for this bloated bureaucracy. Safety, accountability, accessibility & efficiency first!”
In November, Molinaro lost to Democrat Josh Riley to represent New York's 19th congressional district. Molinaro, a New York native, served in the state assembly and unsuccessfully ran for governor against Andrew Cuomo in 2018.
Newsmax reached out to the Trump administration for comment.
James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
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