President Donald Trump has reportedly told Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer that he will unfreeze infrastructure funds for New York and New Jersey if Schumer supports renaming Penn Station and Dulles International Airport after Trump. The demand was first reported by Punchbowl News.
The president in October halted $18bn in funding for a major subway line expansion in New York City and a new rail tunnel connecting the city to New Jersey. The freeze came during a 43-day government shutdown in which Schumer played a major role.
Trump, who cannot serve another term, has sought to put his name on various government buildings and websites since taking office, including the Kennedy Center and the US Institute for Peace. It is unclear whether these changes are legal.
Republican congressman Guy Reschenthaler introduced a bill in 2024 to rename Dulles as “Donald J Trump International Airport”, and Addison McDowell proposed a similar measure last year, but neither progressed. Trump has also pushed for “Trump Accounts” for young people and launched TrumpRX.com for discounted prescription drugs.
