Trump admin OMB Director Russ Vought announced on Wednesday that federal funds earmarked for New York City infrastructure projects would be put on hold over “unconstitutional DEI principles” in practice in the city.

“Roughly $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects have been put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing based on unconstitutional DEI principles. More info to come soon from US DOT,” Vought said.

In specific, he said these funds were for the much-needed Hudson Tunnel Project and the Second Ave Subway. The cut in funds comes as the federal government entered a partial shut down over the Democrats’ insistence that federally funded healthcare be included in a continuing resolution to keep government operational.

City planning and construction projects all have race and gender-based quotas that must be met before contracts are delivered to consultants and contractors. There are also hiring directives in city government. 

DOT Secretary Sean Duffy has had his own run-ins with city government after Governor Kathy Hochul implemented congestion pricing for Manhattan traffic and then vowed to continue the practice even after Duffy said it wasn’t permitted as a fair use of government funds.

He has further called out Hochul for issuing truckers’ licenses to illegal immigrants.

New York City is facing a mayoral election in the coming months that will likely see the ascendance of socialist state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. He has plans to tax both wealthy individuals and corporations in order to fund socialist practices like free day care, free buses, and rent freezes throughout the city.

Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams recently stepped away from his mayoral campaign, withdrawing from the race. He asked New Yorkers not to bring extremism, such as is represented by Mamdani, into city government.