Remember when Americans could drive freely in their own cities without being nickel-and-dimed by bureaucrats? Those days seemed numbered – until today. In city after city, progressive politicians have been steadily chipping away at our basic freedom of movement.

The radical left’s war on cars isn’t about the environment – it’s about control. They want to decide where you can drive, when you can drive, and how much you’ll pay for the privilege.

And if you think that’s an exaggeration, just look at what they tried to do in New York City.

President Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy just delivered a knockout punch to the progressive agenda, canceling New York City’s outrageous congestion pricing scheme.

You know, the one where they charged hardworking Americans $9 just to drive into Manhattan. (Yes, you read that right – $9 just to enter parts of their own city!)

From ‘The Post Millennial’:

Trump Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told New York Governor Kathy Hochul that her plan for congestion pricing in New York City would not be backed by the federal government…

“Every American should be able to access New York City regardless of their economic means. It shouldn’t be reserved for an elite few,” Duffy said in his letter to Governor Hochul. “New York State’s congestion pricing plan is a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners.”

The Department of Transportation’s decision puts an immediate stop to this progressive money grab, which began bleeding drivers dry in January 2025.

And here’s the kicker – they were planning to jack up that $9 fee to a whopping $15 by 2031. (Because apparently, inflation isn’t hitting families hard enough already.)

Protecting Working Families

Let’s be clear about something: regular Americans have already paid for these roads. Secretary Duffy emphasized that point perfectly – commuters finance road construction and improvements through their taxes.

This scheme basically forced them to pay twice for the same streets.

Think about the small business owner making deliveries in Manhattan. Or the family-run funeral home now forced to pass these costs on to grieving families.

Even emergency responders warned that these tolls would delay their response times. But did the progressive politicians care? Not one bit.

Standing Up to Government Overreach

Want to know what this was really about? The MTA – you know, that bastion of efficiency and fiscal responsibility (insert eye roll here) – wanted to use these tolls to secure $15 billion in bonds for public transit.

They literally wanted to force drivers to subsidize a system many of them can’t even use!

Governor Hochul’s response? She actually had the nerve to claim that “commuters are now roadkill on Donald Trump’s revenge tour.”

(Really, Governor? The only roadkill we see is your attempt to pickpocket hardworking Americans.)

Victory for Constitutional Rights

Here’s something the mainstream media won’t tell you: the federal highway aid program specifically prohibits tolling on federally-funded roads unless Congress creates exceptions.

New York’s progressive leadership tried to simply ignore that inconvenient detail.

Even New Jersey’s Democratic Governor Phil Murphy opposed this scheme, calling it “a disaster for middle-class commuters.”

When Democrats and Republicans agree something’s a bad idea, you know it must be truly terrible.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump administration strikes down NYC’s $9 congestion tax, protecting working families from progressive overreach.
• Victory for constitutional rights as federal government blocks attempt to restrict freedom of movement.
• Conservative leadership proves effective at stopping the radical left’s war on drivers and small businesses.

Sources: The Post Millennial, CBS News, New York Post