The Republican administration has petitioned leading U.S. Senators to consider renaming Pennsylvania Station as part of a major reconstruction effort on the Manhattan transit facility. The Transportation Secretary submitted a letter this week requesting congressional funding approval for the rehab project and other transportation initiatives, though the agency did not specify a proposed new name in the correspondence.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has previously indicated openness to naming the station after President Trump. During discussions about the project’s master developer last year, Duffy stated the idea of “Trump Station” appealed to him. Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt responded affirmatively when asked about the possibility earlier this year. The president acknowledged that a potential name change had been discussed with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer but disputed claims he had proposed it in exchange for unfreezing federal funding for a related rail tunnel project connecting Penn Station to New Jersey.
Penn Station, which opened in 1910, was originally named after the Pennsylvania Railroad, the defunct passenger rail company that constructed the facility. The station’s original Beaux Arts structure was demolished in 1963 to accommodate Madison Square Garden. Recently released renderings for the redesign propose returning to classical architectural elements, including stone facades, columns, and a grand concourse. One of the renderings includes Trump’s seal and name on an interior wall.
Opposition to the renaming proposal has emerged from local officials and transit advocates. Manhattan Democrat Jerry Nadler characterized the administration’s actions as a “hostile takeover” of the station and accused officials of attempting to strip local control. The Riders Alliance, a transit advocacy organization, called the renaming idea a “red flag” suggesting the project could become a “vanity boondoggle,” arguing that focus should remain on service improvements rather than commemorative naming. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New Jersey Transit, which operate trains from the station, have not yet commented on the proposal.
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