Trump administration appeals

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Sunday appealed against a decision requiring the Transportation Department to unfreeze federal funding for the $16 billion Hudson Tunnel Project in New York. ⁠



District Judge Jeannette Vargas on Friday issued a preliminary injunction that requires the federal government to release funds ⁠for a project to overhaul critical rail infrastructure in New York and New Jersey.



The Trump administration filed a notice of appeal on Sunday.



The Transportation Department said in September that it froze the funding pending a review of the project's compliance with new federal prohibitions against race- ⁠and sex-based considerations in contracting decisions.



Trump offered last month to unfreeze the funds, a source said, in return for support from Democrats to rename Washington Dulles Airport and New York's Penn Station after him.



Democrats strongly criticized the offer.



The handed down ruling hours after New York and New Jersey said construction would halt for lack of funding.



The existing Hudson Tunnel, heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy ⁠in 2012, needs frequent emergency repairs that disrupt travel on the nation's most heavily used passenger rail line.