Quigley & Pritzker Statement on Trump Withholding Billions in Funding for Chicago Transportation Projects

Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker released the following joint statement, after the Trump administration decided to withhold $2.1 billion in approved funding for the Red Line Extension and the Purple & Modernization Program:

“Trump and Project 2025 Architect Russ Vought are weaponizing the Republican Shutdown to try to cut billions in already-approved funding to expand and improve Chicago's public transit system,” said Chicago Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05). “Trump’s effort to stop transportation infrastructure projects in Chicago and other cities will impact jobs, slow economic growth, and make life harder for millions of Americans. Chicagoans pay more in federal taxes than they will ever get in return. This is our money, and as a leader in transportation funding, I will fight to make sure we get it back.”

“At a time when federal agents are sowing chaos in Chicago, the Trump administration is holding bipartisan funding hostage,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Using transportation funding to score political points doesn’t just hurt the hardworking people who rely on public transit to get to work or school—it weakens our economy, drives away investment, and makes it harder for businesses to thrive. Illinois is entitled to this funding, and I will continue to stand up to these reckless attacks on Illinois working families and communities."