Report: Don’s blocking tunnel

PRESIDENT TRUMP actively campaigned against a stalled rail tunnel linking New York and New Jersey, reaching out to Republican leaders personally to cut the project from a massive spending plan coming up for a vote this week, according to a report.

The $30 billion “Gateway Project” would build two rail tunnels under the Hudson River from Weekhawken, N.J., to New York’s Penn Station. The two existing tunnels are considered aging and at risk of shutting down. The redundant tunnels would allow the existing structures to receive repairs and upgrades.

Trump told House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) Wednesday during a meeting at the Capitol building that no federal funding should go toward the project, according to the Washington Post.

Ryan refused to comment on the issue and the White House did not respond to the Post’s request for comment.

In September, the President appeared to back the plan after a meeting with a congressional delegation from New York.

“Nothing was signed off officially, but every question had a positive answer,” Pete King (R-L.I.) said. “The impression I had was it was as close to being final as it could possibly be.”

The President’s recent opposition could be seen as a jab at Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) the plan’s biggest proponent.