NUCA urges release of Hudson Tunnel funding amid federal pause
(UI) — The National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) is urging the Trump administration to immediately release previously approved federal funding for the $16-billion Hudson Tunnel project, warning that a continued pause could disrupt active contracts, stall construction work, and drive up costs.
In a statement, NUCA Chief Advocacy Officer Zack Perconti said halting or delaying funding for the New York–New Jersey infrastructure project would undermine ongoing work and create uncertainty for contractors already mobilized on the project.
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"NUCA and our New York City area members strongly oppose any shutdown or pause in federal funding for the Hudson Tunnel project. This critical infrastructure initiative already has contracts in place, making such a move profoundly anti-business and disruptive to committed partnerships. Halting work now would needlessly jeopardize the tremendous progress our member’s hard work has already achieved and waste years of dedicated effort.”
Perconti added that a funding freeze could ripple beyond the project itself, affecting future bidding and long-term confidence in public-private infrastructure partnerships.
“This isn't the time to play political games with essential infrastructure. Such uncertainty also puts future contracts—those currently being bid and soon to follow—into serious jeopardy, eroding confidence in public-private collaborations. We urge the Administration’s policymakers to restore and secure funding immediately to keep this vital project on track for the benefit of all Americans.”
NUCA’s New Jersey chapter echoed those concerns, emphasizing the immediate workforce and economic consequences of a prolonged delay. In a joint statement, NUCA of New Jersey President Lisa Chowansky and Executive Director Evan Piscitelli said pausing the project would sideline thousands of skilled workers and disrupt regional economies.
“Delaying this project would immediately halt critical job creation efforts and sideline thousands of skilled construction workers, disrupting paychecks, families, and local economies across New York and New Jersey. It would also force our companies to suspend work on infrastructure that is essential to interstate commerce, driving up transportation costs and the price of everyday goods that families and businesses rely on.”
They also warned that stopping and restarting work would significantly increase project costs.
“A funding pause would also drive-up project costs through schedule delays, material price escalation, workforce demobilization and remobilization, and increased rework, ultimately saddling taxpayers with a more expensive project.”
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