RELEASE: Gottheimer, NJ Leaders, Labor Unions Call for Gateway Funding to Resume as Shovels Go Down Today

Above: Gottheimer addresses end of Gateway Tunnel Project funding.

WEEHAWKEN, NJ — Today, February 6, 2026, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined New Jersey leaders and labor unions and workers to sound the alarm on the impact of the federal funding freeze on the Gateway Tunnel Project, the most important infrastructure project in America — putting thousands of jobs and the economy at risk. With construction set to stop at 5:00 PM today, Gottheimer called for a multi-track strategy, including the two lawsuits and working across the aisle and with the White House to immediately lift the pause, release the money, and keep the project moving forward.

Gottheimer highlighted the importance of the Gateway Project:

• 200,000 commuters rely on the Hudson River tunnels every day.

• The tunnels are 116 years old and were damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

• If the funding remains paused, 1,000 union construction jobs and 11,000 additional support jobs are immediately at risk.

• If one tunnel shuts down, it would cost the U.S. economy $100 million per day — more than $36 billion per year

• The project is critical to 20% of the nation’s GDP.

• Nearly $1 billion has already been spent, with major construction underway, including 700 reinforced columns driven into the Hudson River and a concrete structure at Hudson Yards that is 75% complete

“This transportation crisis is a five-alarm fire,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “At five o’clock today, the money runs out and shovels go down on the most consequential infrastructure project in America. Gateway is about jobs, commuters, and our entire economy — and partisan politics cannot be allowed to light a billion dollars on fire and shut it down.”

Gottheimer highlighted that the Gateway Project was approved and fully funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which he helped write and pass, and that the federal government is obligated to honor its commitments. He warned that halting construction would waste taxpayer dollars, leave half-finished construction sites impacting communities, and severely damage our nation’s economy.

Gottheimer’s remarks as prepared for delivery can be found below.

I am proud to stand here with my colleagues and the hard-working men and women of labor. 

As you’ve heard, this transportation crisis is a five-alarm fire. At 5 PM today, the money runs out and shovels go down on the Gateway Project — the most consequential infrastructure project in America right now.  One that impacts 1,000 labor jobs, 200,000 commuters, 20 percent of our nation’s GDP.  The Administration’s claims about why this project needs to be stopped is totally random B.S.  The real reason is partisan politics. We all know that. 

What makes this so maddening is that Gateway was approved and funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which I proudly helped write and pass into law — and it’s already being built right here and at four other active sites. 

 In 2024, the Gateway Commission and the USDOT signed a binding agreement for approximately $15 billion in federal funding after the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill fully funded the project. The reinforced concrete structure in Hudson Yards is 75 percent done and would be on track to finish later this year. They’ve already driven nearly 700 columns of reinforced earth into the bed of the Hudson. One of the boring machines is also here, but it’s still sitting in the packaging because of the absurd funding pause.

But, we are where we are, and now the question is how do we keep the project funded and moving. So, I’m here today to reiterate the importance of a multi-track strategy. Yes, these two lawsuits are key, and hopefully, we get the TRO today at 1 pm in the South District. But, to solve this stalemate, we also need to continue working with our colleagues across the aisle to get Gateway funding turned back on.  

I’ll continue working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues in Congress – and with the White House, to get the Gateway Project moving again. I know it’s possible — it’s the most important project in the country. 

I was on the phone with Democrats and Republicans just last night who care about keeping Gateway on track. 

We’ve got to get this done. This project is too vital to do anything less than throw everything we’ve got at it. Jobs are on the line. Public safety is on the line. Our economy is on the line.   So, I’ll stay at the negotiating table, 24/7, until we’ve got a deal. 

The Administration is in clear violation of the agreement. 

As I have said, I’ll continue to remind the White House that if something happens to the existing 116-year-old tunnels, the ones being held together by band-aids and scotch tape, then they own it. They own the impact to our families – the $100 million a day to our economy – the thousands of jobs and commuters — the $1 billion dollars that will be, in essence, lit on fire for the work already done. 

Mr. President, you have a choice. Don’t kill this project, resurrect it.

Give Gateway the green light. Let’s get this done. 

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