White House Withholds $2.1B for Chicago Red Line
On Oct. 3, 2025 the White House, via OMB Director Russ Vought, announced it will withhold $2.1 billion in federal funding for Chicago infrastructure projects — including the planned Roseland Red Line extension — citing concerns about "race‑based contracting." The move, made amid a partial government shutdown, follows an earlier OMB pause on roughly $18 billion in New York projects (the Hudson River tunnel and Second Avenue Subway work) and signals the administration is using funding holds and potential layoffs as leverage in shutdown negotiations.
Politics
Infrastructure
🔍 Key Facts
- OMB Director Russ Vought announced the $2.1 billion pause on Oct. 3, 2025, specifically targeting funds for Chicago's Red Line extension on the South Side.
- The White House previously paused about $18 billion in New York infrastructure funding, citing review of 'unconstitutional practices,' affecting the Hudson River tunnel and Second Avenue subway extension.
- The administration framed the action as a review to prevent 'race‑based contracting'; officials (White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt) held a briefing tied to the announcement as the shutdown continues.
📍 Contextual Background
- Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought announced a pause of $2.1 billion in Chicago transit-related infrastructure projects, specifically the Red Line Extension and the Red and Purple Modernization Project.
- Russell Vought served as the Director (chief) of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
- OMB is the abbreviation for the Office of Management and Budget, an office within the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for assisting the President in preparing the federal budget and supervising its administration in executive agencies.