WASHINGTON, D.C. — Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy unveiled a week of sweeping actions that reinforced President Trump’s “America First” transportation agenda — cutting Mexican flight routes, salvaging a key rural air program amid a government shutdown, and advancing one of the largest rail infrastructure projects in U.S. history.
U.S. Slashes 13 Mexican Flight Routes Over Bilateral Agreement Violations
On October 28, Duffy announced the cancellation of all passenger service between the United States and Mexico’s Felipe Angeles International Airport (NLU), slashing 13 routes operated by Mexican carriers. The Department of Transportation also froze the expansion of services between the United States and Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX).
“Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg were too weak to stand up to Mexico when they walked all over our bilateral aviation agreement,” Duffy said. “These deals are binding, and like our trade agreements, President Trump is going to put America First and enforce them.”
The move follows three years of what DOT described as Mexico’s “illegal” cancellation and freezing of U.S. carrier flights. Duffy warned that additional measures — including a proposed prohibition on Mexican airlines transporting belly cargo to the United States — could follow within 108 business days if Mexico fails to comply.
Essential Air Service Program Rescued Amid Shutdown
Two days later, Duffy announced that the Department had secured an emergency $111 million funding measure to keep the Essential Air Service (EAS) program alive during what he called the “Democrat-led shutdown.”
“Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are holding the country hostage so they can try to force the American people to fund healthcare for illegal immigrants,” Duffy said. “I’m doing everything in my power to keep DOT programs like Essential Air Service going so no community loses access to vital transportation.”
The funding is expected to sustain the EAS program — which supports flights connecting rural areas to larger hubs — through November 18. The Department said it may extend funding if additional authority is granted.
Trump Administration Advances Penn Station Overhaul
Also on October 30, Duffy announced major progress on the “Transformation Project” to rebuild New York’s Penn Station, one of the busiest rail terminals in the world. The milestone includes the release of a solicitation for a master developer, selection of public-private partnership (P3) advisors Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP and KPMG, and the start of a Service Optimization Study aimed at expanding passenger capacity.
“We’re rebuilding Penn Station on Trump Time,” Duffy said. “Under President Trump, USDOT is cutting through red tape to create an unmatched symbol of American architecture and infrastructure.”
Amtrak Special Advisor Andy Byford said the overhaul will be “one of the biggest and most significant construction projects in U.S. history.”
The Penn Station transformation — part of the Trump Administration’s “Big, Beautiful Infrastructure” initiative — aims to break ground by the end of 2027 and deliver a modern, world-class hub serving millions of passengers annually.
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