WATCH: Hochul Erupts in Heated Speech After Trump Moves to Scrap NYC Toll Plan

New York Governor Kathy Hochul delivered a fiery and impassioned press conference in response to President Donald Trump’s recent push to dismantle New York City’s congestion pricing initiative. The Democrat governor sharply criticized Trump, even comparing him to a monarch, and vowed to stand firm against what she called an overreach of federal power.

The confrontation stems from a February 19, 2025 letter sent by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to Hochul, proposing an end to the congestion toll system currently in place in parts of New York City. The tolls, which fluctuate based on traffic and can exceed $35, have been a controversial measure aimed at reducing traffic and pollution. Trump, however, has argued that they disproportionately harm working-class residents.

During her press event, which took place the same day the letter was received, Hochul expressed outrage. She began with a detailed timeline: “At 1:01 PM today, we received a letter from Secretary Duffy indicating the federal government’s intention to shut down our congestion pricing program. By 1:58 PM, the president had tweeted, ‘Long live the king.’”

Her reaction quickly escalated into a broader critique of Trump, whom she accused of acting like royalty. “New York fought off a king nearly 250 years ago,” Hochul declared. “We didn’t bend then, and we’re not going to start now. These streets are where that fight for freedom began — and we will not back down, not now, not ever.”

The origin of the controversy traces back to the Central Business District Tolling Program (CBDTP), a federal pilot initiative approved under the 1991 Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP), allowing states like New York to test congestion relief methods. In his letter, Duffy argued that New York’s implementation of the program has gone far beyond its original intent.

“Governor Hochul,” Duffy wrote, “the FHWA supported New York’s tolling initiative as an exception to the typical federal restrictions on tolling highways. However, it was never intended to become a permanent burden on commuters.”

He further echoed the president’s concern that the tolls unfairly impact everyday workers. “Many of these people already pay into the system through gas taxes and other fees. To ask them to shoulder yet another cost just to get to work is unacceptable,” Duffy stated.

As the dispute unfolds, it’s clear this clash between federal and state leadership is far from over — and both sides appear ready to dig in. Hochul’s defiance signals a new chapter in the ongoing battle over transportation policy and working-class affordability in America’s largest city.