Pritzker, IL Democrats criticize federal freezing of transit funding for Chicago

CHICAGO, Ill. (WAND) - Governor JB Pritzker and other Illinois congressional and elected officials criticized the Trump administration Tuesday for freezing $2.1 billion in Chicago transit funding.

The Office of the Governor said in a press release that the funding was planned for the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line Extension and Red and Purple Line modernization projects.

"Using transportation funding to score political points doesn’t just hurt the hardworking people who rely on public transit to get to work or school—it weakens our economy, drives away investment, and makes it harder for businesses to thrive," Prizker said in the release.

Sen. Dick Durbin cautioned that the freeze "jeopardizes tens of thousands of jobs" and over a "decade of progress."

"Delaying these grants for political gain directly harms the city, its residents, and the economy," Durbin said.

Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton stated that she and Pritzker will do "everything in our power" to fight to reclaim the funding.

"This bipartisan-funded project is vital to our regional economy and connects Chicagoland families to jobs and opportunity. In Illinois, we will not bend the knee," Stratton said.

The full release and statements from those elected officials are online.

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