WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) – The Trump administration’s decision to suspend funding for a $17.2 billion project to build a new Hudson River tunnel connecting New York City and New Jersey will force work to be halted next week, officials said Tuesday.

President Donald Trump said in October he had “terminated” the project.

Representative Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, said the project will be suspended on Feb. 6 if Trump does not restore the funding that was approved and funded during the administration of former President Joe Biden.

Any failure of the current Hudson tunnel, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, would hobble commuting in the metropolitan area that produces 10% of the country’s economic output. 

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama )

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