Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Trump Administration Pausing $2.1 Billion In Grants For Chicago Infrastructure Projects

Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Trump Administration Pausing $2.1 Billion In Grants For Chicago Infrastructure Projects

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after Russell Vought, Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), announced that the Trump Administration would "put on hold" $2.1 billion in federal funding for Chicago infrastructure projects, including the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)'s Red Line Extension Project and CTA's Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Program:

"The Trump Administration's decision to pause $2.1 billion in funds that are contractually obligated for the CTA Red Line Extension Project and the Red and Purple Modernization Program is not only illegal, but vindictive. This threatens progress made through a decade's worth of cooperation between local, state, and federal officials to bring better transit options to Chicagoans and to Americans visiting our city, from red and blue states alike. This decision also jeopardizes tens of thousands of jobs-including jobs for people who voted for Trump-and the economic growth they create. Delaying them for political gain directly harms the city, its residents, and the economy.

"We cannot ignore that OMB Director Vought, at the direction of the President, is cruelly targeting states that did not vote for President Trump in the 2024 election, without any regard for how many Americans he hurts-and seemingly as a political chess move during a government shutdown, of all times. This is a blatant abuse of power by a President and an Administration that would rather settle petty personal scores than help the American people. This is not normal.

"The Trump Administration should immediately release any holds on this funding."

In January 2025, Durbin, Duckworth, and members of the Chicago congressional delegation announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) had approved a full funding grant agreement for Red Line Extension Project. The funding agreement contractually obligated $1.9 billion in federal funding. Today, Director Vought rejected that contractual agreement by putting those funds on hold.

The 5.6-mile extension of the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line to Chicago's southern border is the first rail transit extension in Chicago in 30 years. It would serve roughly 100,000 people, most of whom are from low-income households on Chicago's South Side, and will benefit tens of thousands of working families and individuals in surrounding suburbs and communities. The project would also provide an economic boost, making an estimated 25,000 additional jobs accessible to South Side residents within a 45-minute commute in the coming years, and generating $4.4 billion in economic activity in the County during the construction phase. The City of Chicago also has targeted areas near future RLE stations for significant local investment.

The RPM project aims to rebuild the century-old Red and Purple Line track structure and stations north of Belmont. Durbin has secured more than $1 billion in federal funds for RPM over the years, including $956 million for the Core Capacity Program that Durbin created as a member of the MAP-21 transportation bill in 2012.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Durbin, Duckworth, and members of the Chicago-area delegation supported, designated $89.9 billion in transit funding, and Illinois will receive the fourth-highest amount in direct transit funding at $4.1 billion.

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