October 1, 2025
Russ Vought Freezes $18 Billion NYC Funds — DEI Fight Erupts
OMB Director Russ Vought Halts $18B in New York City Infrastructure Funds Over “Unconstitutional” DEI Concerns The White House has dropped a bombshell on New York today. The Office of Management and Budget, led by Director Russ Vought, announced that about 18 billion dollars in federal funding earmarked for two massive infrastructure projects in New York City—namely the Hudson River rail tunnel and the Second Avenue subway extension—will be frozen, pending a review into whether the funds support programs tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. Russ Vought, speaking on behalf of the administration, framed it as a legal safety












