Trump Attaches His Name to Public Infrastructure and Government Institutions Across His Second Term, Sometimes Profiting His Family

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In January 2026, President Donald Trump told Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that he would unfreeze $16 billion in federal funding for the Gateway tunnel project—a major rail infrastructure project connecting New York and New Jersey—if Schumer agreed to support renaming New York's Penn Station and Washington Dulles International Airport after Trump, according to Punchbowl News, which first reported the story. CNN, NBC News, and ABC News independently confirmed the account. Schumer rejected the proposal, telling the president it was beyond his authority to deliver on such a request.

The Gateway Tunnel Project

The Gateway Development Commission describes the Hudson Tunnel Project as "an urgent investment in America's passenger rail network" that involves building nine miles of new passenger rail track and rehabilitating the North River Tunnel, which has been in service since 1910. The tunnel carries more than 200,000 passengers daily on the nation's busiest rail corridor.

Congress had already approved more than $16 billion in federal grants and loans for the project. On September 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation abruptly froze all funding, citing the need to verify compliance with a new rule banning contracting requirements based on sex or race. Project administrators certified full compliance with all applicable requirements, but DOT refused to resume funding. Nearly $2 billion had already been spent on the project.

The Funding Freeze and Lawsuits

By late January 2026, the Gateway Development Commission announced that all available credit had been exhausted and construction would have to pause by February 6. Officials warned the halt would immediately cost nearly 1,000 jobs, with up to 11,000 at risk in an extended shutdown, and add $15–$20 million in monthly costs.

On February 3, New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport sued the Trump administration in federal court, arguing the funding suspension was unlawful. The states alleged the freeze represented political retribution to punish Trump's political rivals, citing social media posts where Trump claimed he was terminating the project to cut programs championed by Schumer. The Gateway Development Commission filed a separate breach-of-contract lawsuit seeking $205 million in withheld disbursements.

On February 6, U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas issued a temporary restraining order blocking the administration from continuing to withhold the funds. "Plaintiffs have adequately demonstrated that they would imminently suffer irreparable harm if the project were forced to shut down its operations," Vargas wrote.

Disputed Accounts

On February 7, while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump claimed that Schumer had "suggested that to me about changing the name of Penn Station to Trump Station." Schumer responded on X: "Absolute lie. He knows it. Everyone knows it. Only one man can restart the project and he can restart it with the snap of his fingers."

A source close to Schumer told NBC News that "there is nothing to trade. The president stopped the funding, and he can restart the funding with a snap of his fingers."

Political Response

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) called the proposal "ridiculous," adding that "naming rights aren't tradable as part of any negotiations, and neither is the dignity of New Yorkers." Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY), whose district includes Penn Station, said on X that Trump was "once again attempting to extend his extortion racket." Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) called Trump "pathologically petty" and said he "cannot be trusted to keep his word."

Representative Riley Moore (R-WV), who previously co-sponsored a bill to rename Dulles after Trump, praised the proposal, calling Trump one of "the greatest Presidents in US history."

Broader Naming Pattern

The Penn Station and Dulles proposal is the latest in a series of efforts by the Trump administration to apply the president's name to government institutions and programs. According to Axios, since returning to office Trump and his allies have:

• Renamed the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to the "Trump-Kennedy Center" (December 2025, via a board vote by Trump appointees)
• Renamed the U.S. Institute of Peace to the "Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace" (December 2025, via the State Department)
• Announced "Trump-class" battleships (December 2025)
• Created "Trump Accounts" for newborn savings, "Trump Gold Cards" for immigration fast-tracking, and a "TrumpRx" prescription drug website
• Placed Trump's image on the 2026 National Parks pass alongside George Washington
• Designated the next-generation fighter jet as the F-47, a reference to Trump being the 47th president

A federal judge ruled in May 2025 that Trump and DOGE used "brute force" to take over the U.S. Institute of Peace building, calling it a "gross usurpation of power." Representative Joyce Beatty (D-OH) sued in December 2025 to force the removal of Trump's name from the Kennedy Center. The Center for Biological Diversity also sued to block Trump's image on the National Parks pass.

Palm Beach International Becomes the "President Donald J. Trump International Airport"

This renaming, at an airport about five miles from Mar-a-Lago, was carried out through a state law rather than an act of Congress. Unlike the other renamings, it came with a licensing agreement that gave Trump's family commercial control over the airport's name.

On March 30, 2026, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation amending Section 332.0075 of the Florida Statutes. The law gave the state authority to name major commercial airports and renamed Palm Beach International the "President Donald J. Trump International Airport," effective July 1, 2026. It also required Palm Beach County to obtain the approvals needed to implement the change, including the consent of the trademark owner. The process had begun formally in February, when Trump's lawyers filed trademark applications for the new airport name as Republican legislators advanced the mandate.

Because the name is trademarked, the county could not simply repaint its signs. On May 5, 2026, the Palm Beach County Commission voted 4–3 to approve a Naming Rights and License Agreement—signed by Trump on May 3—with DTTM Operations LLC, the Delaware-based Trump Organization company, run by Donald Trump Jr., that manages the family's licensing, marketing, and intellectual property. The deciding vote was cast by Maria Sachs, a Democrat, after a contentious debate in which the other six members split along party lines.

Terms Analysts Called "Unusual"

The agreement gives the county a perpetual, royalty-free license to use the name for ordinary airport purposes, and county officials stressed that governance, finances, and operational control do not change—"a branding change only." But the license is non-exclusive, and trademark attorney Josh Gerben, who reviewed the contract and has no connection to it, said several provisions were unusual for what is normally a simple honorary naming. Because the Trump Organization retains ownership of the marks, it may continue to use the airport name commercially elsewhere, license the trademark to third parties of its choosing, and produce and sell its own branded merchandise—including on Trump's existing online store.

Two provisions drew the most scrutiny. First, while the contract bars DTTM from taking "direct financial compensation" from merchandise sold at the airport, any retailer wanting to sell name-branded goods there must source them from vendors the Trump Organization approves—giving the family control over who profits. "Maybe they don't make money directly, but they certainly have the ability to direct some business, to curry favor with a company by sending business their way," Gerben told The Guardian, predicting Trump was "likely to net millions." The agreement also gives Trump's company the right to audit the airport's books and final approval over how his name, image, and likeness are portrayed at the airport—which Gerben said "effectively limits the county's editorial discretion, ensuring that portrayals of Trump...align with his personal preferences."

The Vote Under Pressure

Democratic Representative Lois Frankel, whose district covers much of Palm Beach County, called the change "misguided and unfair," faulting the Republican-controlled legislature for ignoring local residents and arguing that "decisions about naming major infrastructure should wait until after an honoree's service has concluded." Sachs defended her deciding vote, telling The Guardian the board "did not vote to change the name of the airport"—that was already state law—but only approved "a licensing agreement necessary to protect the county from trademark liability" and keep "a critical public asset" running lawfully. County staff had warned that non-compliance could put state transportation funding and grant assurances at risk; DeSantis has previously removed local officials, including two elected state attorneys and several school-board members, who crossed him.

Eric Trump, the president's second son, celebrated on X, sharing a gold-framed logo bearing his father's name and writing, "There is no person more deserving of this incredible honor than @realDonaldTrump! Congratulations Dad!"

One element remained outside the family's control: the airport's identifier codes. The IATA three-letter code will remain "PBI" pending further legislation and FAA systems updates, though the FAA confirmed the airport's ICAO identifier is scheduled to change to "DJT" on July 9 in FAA charts and aeronautical databases.

Legislative Response

On January 13, 2026, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) introduced the SERVE Act (Stop Executive Renaming for Vanity and Ego), which would prohibit the naming or renaming of any federal building, land, or other asset after a sitting president, bar the use of federal funds for such changes, and apply retroactively to the Kennedy Center and Institute of Peace. The bill was filed as an amendment to government funding legislation. Representative April McClain Delaney (D-MD) introduced companion legislation in the House.

"It's no secret that President Trump is undermining democracy and moving this country toward authoritarianism," Sanders said. "Part of that strategy is to create the myth of the 'Great Leader' by naming public buildings after himself—something that dictators have done throughout history."