Two long-planned transit projects in Chicago are on hold after the Trump administration said on Friday it would suspend $2.1 billion in federal funding that had been allocated for their completion.
Russell T. Vought, the White House budget director, said the funding had been paused to “ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting.”
Elected officials in Chicago immediately cried foul, saying the funding cut was political revenge from President Trump aimed at a heavily Democratic city.
“At a time when federal agents are sowing chaos in Chicago, the Trump administration is holding bipartisan funding hostage,” said Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, a Democrat. “It’s attempting to score political points but is instead hurting our economy and the hardworking people who rely on public transit to get to work or school.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago, a fellow Democrat, said that the cuts would hurt working people who rely on public transit, especially those who live in low-income areas on the South Side.
“The Red Line Extension is about bringing jobs, economic development and connectivity to the Far South Side, which will benefit our city as a whole,” Mr. Johnson said. “Right when we are finally on the brink of moving forward, Trump just cut off the funding.”
The project to modernize and expand the Red Line on Chicago’s “L” system has been in the works for decades. Under the plan, the Red Line, which cuts a path from the Far North Side through downtown to the South Side, would be extended with several new stations even farther south. That would give public transportation access to residents of neighborhoods that are now served only by buses.
Much of the project has already been completed, with newly renovated stations in use on the North Side of the city. Groundbreaking on the new extension was expected to begin in 2026, with construction continuing for several years.
In a statement, the Department of Transportation said it was conducting a review to ensure that no “unconstitutional practices” were occurring relating to the Chicago transit projects. The administration also said this week that it would withhold $18 billion in federal funding for transportation infrastructure improvements in New York, including the Second Avenue subway line, a move that local officials said was politically motivated.
“Together, these critical reviews are intended to ensure no additional federal dollars go towards discriminatory, illegal, and wasteful contracting practices,” the statement said.
Julie Bosman is the Chicago bureau chief for The Times, writing and reporting stories from around the Midwest.
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