Trump Administration To Pause Billions In Funding For Red Line Extension, Other Chicago Projects

The Trump administration announced a pause on $2. 1 billion in federal funding for the Red Line Extension project in Chicago, citing concerns over race-based contracting practices as the reason for the hold. Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, stated that the U. S. Department of Transportation would review the projects for any unconstitutional practices.

Mayor Brandon Johnson criticized the funding freeze, highlighting the vital improvements that the Red and Purple Modernization Project has already brought to the community. The Red Line Extension, which has been in development for decades, aims to stretch the line from 95th Street to 130th Street, adding stations at key locations to enhance transit access. The CTA hopes to begin construction in early 2026, but the funding pause complicates this timeline. The agency is reviewing the implications of the federal decision. This funding hold adds to a broader trend of federal cuts during the ongoing government shutdown.

Johnson's remarks also pointed to a disparity in federal funding priorities, contrasting local needs with international financial assistance offered to countries like Argentina.