Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized that the renovation of New York City’s Penn Station will be a central focus for the Trump administration, pledging to expedite the project with unprecedented speed. Federal officials announced plans to begin work by late 2027, marking a shift from previous timelines that had been criticized as vague and delayed.
Duffy accused previous authorities of failing to deliver meaningful progress, stating, “How bad is New York Penn Station? The clocks don’t even work! Enough is enough.” He reiterated the administration’s commitment to completing the overhaul at the “speed of Trump,” vowing to avoid prolonged planning phases that he claimed had stalled prior efforts.
The project will receive a $43 million federal grant to Amtrak, which now oversees the redevelopment after the Trump administration transferred control from the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in April. Duffy defended the decision, arguing that state-run agencies lacked the capacity to execute the transformation. “This is not about backroom thinking or spending money on plans that never deliver,” he said.
The timeline includes redeveloping the station’s infrastructure and expanding rail capacity, with federal officials set to accept proposals in October 2024 and begin construction by late 2027. Duffy also hinted at the possibility of renaming the hub, stating, “We are going to make Union & Penn Station BEAUTIFUL again. We are going to make transit SAFE again.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul had previously ceded control of the project to the federal government, citing the need for a “beautiful Penn Station” following Trump’s return to the presidency. Meanwhile, Duffy continues to face legal challenges over congestion pricing policies.