Trump administration freezes $2.1bn in funds for Chicago transit projects

OMB director Russ Vought presented the pause as a move against diversity efforts in latest jab to Democratic-led city

The US government has put $2.1bn in funding for infrastructure projects in Chicago on hold, Russ Vought, the office of management and budget director, said on Friday, in another jab at a Democratic-led city during the federal government shutdown, presented as a move against diversity efforts.

Vought said the money for major projects on Chicago's subway mass transit system - including extensions of the Red Line route and modernizations have been put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting".