White House budget director Russ Vought says the Trump administration will withhold $2.1 billion for Chicago infrastructure projects, expanding funding fights that have targeted Democratic areas during the government shutdown. The pause affects a long-awaited plan to extend the city’s Red Line train. Vought wrote on social media Friday the money was put on hold by the Republican administration "to ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting.” Vought made a similar announcement earlier this week involving New York, where he said $18 billion for infrastructure would be paused, including funding for a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River. President Donald Trump has embraced Vought’s tactics.