Transportation
The latest news, analysis and updates on transportation politics and policy.
Fears of travel chaos flare as Mullin weighs pulling customs officers from Newark airport
The DHS secretary has said Customs and Border Protection officers at the airport could be sent to handle protests at an immigration detention center in New Jersey.
Weekly Transportation
Delivered every Monday by 10 a.m., Weekly Transportation examines the latest news in transportation and infrastructure politics and policy.
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Would-be sponsor balked at paying for Sean Duffy’s tour across America
Some Democratic lawmakers say further examination of Duffy’s travel is warranted.
LIRR strike moves forward after talks collapse
No deal ahead of midnight deadline halts service for 300,000 railroad riders as unions reject MTA’s wage proposal.
Trump wants a gas tax holiday. Republicans will ‘hear him out,’ Thune says
The Senate majority leader had previously dismissed the idea of suspending the 18-cents-a-gallon levy.
AI in the sky: Inside the FAA plan to overhaul air traffic
The agency’s new push isn’t focused on “safety critical functions,” according to a company involved in the effort.
Spirit Airlines shuts down after rescue talks with White House fall through
“It is with great disappointment that Spirit Airlines has started winding down its global operations, effective immediately,” the carrier wrote on social media.
Trump on saving Spirit Airlines: ‘We gave them a final proposal’
The troubled budget airline is reportedly on the verge of shutting down.
Trump administration in ‘advanced discussions’ on Spirit Airlines bailout
President Donald Trump said this week that perhaps he could “help” the troubled airline.
Iran doubles down on closing Strait of Hormuz as ceasefire nears expiration
“The gaps remain wide and some fundamental issues are still unresolved,” an Iranian official said.
New Jersey’s $150 World Cup fare kicks off uproar
The governor and FIFA have been in a dayslong back-and-forth after she blamed the sporting body for not paying to move soccer fans to and from the matches.
House Transportation chair reveals markup date for highway bill
Sam Graves also said he’s working on a $500 billion to $550 billion topline and that the bill will include an EV registration fee.
Trump’s push to privatize airport screening is rattling some nerves
The administration is seeking to expand a program used by 20 airports, but security concerns abound.
Mamdani says free buses won’t happen this year
The mayor defended the City Council speaker from personal attacks and reflected on Trump’s war with Iran in a wide-ranging interview with POLITICO.
Free transit promise runs into reality in Albany
The mayor campaigned on a plan to make buses free. But it isn’t going to happen this year, he acknowledged in an interview.
With DeSantis signature, Trump airport renaming comes in for landing
State Republicans fought for the name change during Florida’s regular lawmaking session.
‘The alarm bells are going off’: Air travel hits new lows
Trump promised a “golden age” of travel, but as one industry official put it: “If you’re in Houston, and you’re standing in a four-hour line, it doesn’t really feel ‘golden’ at the moment.”
TSA workers will start getting paychecks again
The Trump administration said Friday that workers will start getting paid as early as Monday, even as the DHS shutdown drags on.
House Transportation Chair Graves to retire
The Republican lawmaker from Missouri is also a professional pilot.
NTSB chair warns against ‘pointing fingers at controllers’ in LaGuardia crash
The nation’s top accident investigator, Jennifer Homendy, instead focused on problems tracking a fire truck involved in the deadly crash.
‘The pressure is untenable’: Trump’s deployment of ICE agents to airports ramps up shutdown fight
ICE agents have arrived at airports in Illinois, New York, Texas and New Jersey.
Chicago Transit Authority sues to restore billions in federal funding
At issue are more than $2 billion in federal money for expansion and maintenance of the city’s red and purple lines.
Trump temporarily waives shipping restrictions amid surging oil and gas prices
The waiver is the latest attempt by the administration to curb rising energy prices due to the war with Iran.
MTA sues Trump administration for Second Avenue Subway funding
The lawsuit alleges the federal government wrongfully froze $58.6 million, calling the move politically motivated.
How Canada’s embrace of Chinese EVs could scramble the American market
Canada’s import plans reverse years of North American policy that treated the cheap, high-tech Chinese cars as an economic threat.
White House says NTSB member was fired for inappropriate alcohol use, harassment
Todd Inman categorically denied the allegations, calling his firing “a political hit job.”
‘Insane’: Texts reveal El Paso airport’s shock over FAA closure
The messages, obtained by POLITICO, show how airport officials were flabbergasted by the dramatic flight ban.
Trump administration can’t stop New York’s congestion pricing, court rules
Gov. Kathy Hochul declared victory: “Congestion pricing is legal, it works, and it is here to stay. “
The Senate’s air safety bill was on a glide path to success. Then the Pentagon stepped in.
“I’ve seen this playbook from DOD multiple times,” said one person familiar with the events.
FAA shuts down airspace in Texas near previous abrupt closure
The latest restriction is over a small community along the Mexico border.
House rejects Senate air safety bill amid Republican clash
The legislation’s future is now uncertain after a bipartisan push to clear it.
GOP fight over air safety bill comes to a head
The House is poised to vote on legislation responding to last year’s midair collision in Washington. Some Republicans are not happy with it.