Earthjustice

03/03/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/03/2026 12:30

Federal Court Rules That Trump Administration’s Attempt to End Congestion Pricing Is Unlawful

March 3, 2026

Federal Court Rules That Trump Administration's Attempt to End Congestion Pricing Is Unlawful

Victory

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After 1-year anniversary, the Congestion Pricing program has cleaned the air, made streets safer, boosted local economy, and added millions for public transportation improvements

Contacts

Nydia Gutiérrez, [email protected]

New York, NY-

Today, the United States District Court-Southern District of New York rejected the Trump administration's attempt to wipe out New York City's proven-successful Congestion Pricing program. Represented by Earthjustice, Riders Alliance and Sierra Club filed a lawsuit joining the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) as interveners on March 4, 2025. Today's decision awards summary judgment to the MTA and to Riders Alliance and Sierra Club as Intervenors, rejecting the Trump administration's effort to have Riders Alliance's and Sierra Club's claims dismissed.

"This a huge win for New Yorkers and for our democracy," said Dror Ladin, Senior Attorney at Earthjustice. "President Trump declared himself a king and decreed that congestion pricing was dead. But the court confirmed today that Trump has no power to override the democratic process that brought us Congestion Pricing. It remains very much alive, and is delivering great results for our air, our streets, our public transit, and our climate."

The lawsuit responded to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's attempt to rescind prior federal approval. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman has already ruled the federal government cannot withhold transportation funds while the case proceeds.

Despite criticism from President Donald Trump, who has called the toll "a disaster for New York," Congestion Pricing continues to prove the opposite: cleaner air, faster travel, stronger transit, and a thriving business district. See more details.

(Casey Chin / Earthjustice)

A subway train on the 7 line in Queens. New York City's congestion pricing program is raising millions for public transit improvements and significantly reducing traffic. (Marco Bottigelli / Getty Images)

Additional Resources

About Earthjustice

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

Earthjustice published this content on March 03, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 03, 2026 at 18:30 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]