logo
NYC's ‘Train Daddy' Andy Byford is coming back to take over long-troubled Penn Station overhaul

NYC's ‘Train Daddy' Andy Byford is coming back to take over long-troubled Penn Station overhaul

New York Post23-05-2025

New York's 'Train Daddy' is coming home.
Former NYC Transit President Andy Byford — who infamously resigned after clashing with then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo — has been brought on by the White House to take over the long-delayed revamp of Penn Station.
Byford, now an executive at Amtrak, will oversee one of the most prominent transit projects in the country, White House officials confirmed Friday.
Advertisement
Andy Byford is back to takeover the ailing project.
AFP via Getty Images
The move, first reported by Gothamist, puts the British transit official on a collision course with MTA Chair Janno Lieber, who had the project torn away from his agency by US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
The Trump administration instead gave the massive job to Amtrak, where Byford has worked since 2023.
Advertisement
Trump announced his administration would be taking over the project — to the chagrin of Kathy Hochul.
Getty Images
The beloved transportation exec, who has also led the Sydney, Toronto and London systems, was run out of New York in 2020 by Cuomo.
Byford said at the time that Cuomo — who is now running for New York City mayor — undermined him to the point that his job became 'intolerable.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

WA Medicaid data shared with federal immigration authorities, report says
WA Medicaid data shared with federal immigration authorities, report says

Yahoo

time42 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

WA Medicaid data shared with federal immigration authorities, report says

(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Washington is one of a few states whose Medicaid data has reportedly been shared with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which could use it to potentially track down immigrants without legal status. The shared information, including names, addresses, and social security numbers, is from California, Illinois and Washington D.C., on top of Washington state, according to the Associated Press. This comes as the Trump administration seeks to ramp up deportations. Washington provides benefits that mirror Medicaid to immigrants in the U.S. without legal authorization. Enrollment is capped based on available funding, and only state dollars are used to pay for the program. The other states with data handed over offer similar benefits. The agency that runs Washington's Medicaid program, known as Apple Health, wasn't sure 'what information was disclosed or how it may have been used.' 'We've seen the reports and are deeply concerned about the potential misuse of personal health information belonging to Washington Apple Health clients,' state Health Care Authority spokesperson Katie Pope said in an email on Friday. 'We are currently working closely with the Governor's Office and the Attorney General's Office to understand the scope of what occurred, including what data from Washington has been shared and how many individuals may have been affected,' Pope continued. As of this spring, nearly 2 million Washington residents were enrolled in Apple Health, including over 850,000 children. Medicaid, primarily funded by the federal government and run by the states, provides health insurance to low-income residents. Federal law prohibits noncitizens from accessing Medicaid, but states can shell out money for programs that cover immigrants. Washington state lawmakers this year earmarked $150 million for this purpose, enough to continue coverage for about 13,000 people. California and Illinois have moved to freeze or shut down their similar programs. Republicans in Congress have proposed reductions in federal Medicaid reimbursements for states that provide this kind of coverage to immigrants. In a statement, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin said, 'President Trump consistently promised to protect Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries.' 'To keep that promise after Joe Biden flooded our country with tens of millions of illegal aliens CMS and DHS are exploring an initiative to ensure that illegal aliens are not receiving Medicaid benefits that are meant for law-abiding Americans,' McLaughlin continued. In light of a February executive order from President Donald Trump, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services late last month announced it was reviewing state Medicaid data to ensure federal funds weren't being used on immigrants without legal status. 'Medicaid is not, and cannot be, a backdoor pathway to subsidize open borders,' Mehmet Oz, the agency's administrator, said in a statement at the time. 'States have a duty to uphold the law and protect taxpayer funds.' California, Washington and Illinois shared information about noncitizens receiving health coverage, according to the AP, citing a June 6 memo. 'Protecting the privacy of our Apple Health clients is core to our mission, and we take these concerns very seriously,' said Pope, of the Health Care Authority. 'We'll continue to coordinate with state and federal partners to determine the facts and will take appropriate action as we learn more.' The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are within the Department of Health and Human Services, run by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose advisers ordered the Medicaid data shared with the Department of Homeland Security, the AP reported Friday. They reportedly shared the information despite pushback from federal Medicaid officials. The sharing came as federal immigration agents conducted immigration raids in California that led to protests. Trump has deployed National Guard troops and Marines in response to the demonstrations.

Anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil can remain in detention, judge rules
Anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil can remain in detention, judge rules

New York Post

timean hour ago

  • New York Post

Anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil can remain in detention, judge rules

The Trump administration can continue to hold anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil at the Louisiana detention facility where he's been locked up since March, a federal judge ruled Friday. Judge Michael Farbiarz had issued a preliminary injunction earlier this week barring the Trump administration from deporting the ex-Columbia University student and ordering his release. On Friday, however, the New Jersey judge determined that federal authorities can continue to hold Khalil on a separate alleged immigration violation discovered after his initial arrest. 3 Farbiarz previously ordered the Trump administration to release Khalil by Friday. Senate Judiciary Committee 'It would plainly be unlawful to detain [Khalil] on a charge the Court preliminarily enjoined,' Farbiarz wrote in his order. 'But by their letter of this afternoon … the [Trump administration] have now represented that [Khalil] is being detained on another, second charge.' 'That second charge has not been preliminary enjoined by the court.' Farbiarz noted that Khalil's legal team has not 'put forward factual evidence as to why it might be unlawful to detain him on the second charge' and 'failed to make meaningful legal arguments as to that second charge.' The second charge accuses Khalil of failing to disclose on his green card application that he was a member of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and the Columbia University Apartheid Divestment coalition, as well as his work for the Syria Office in the British Embassy in Beirut. 'We are profoundly disappointed that Mahmoud has to bear any more delay and detention from this historically outrageous government conduct,' Baher Azmy, an attorney for Khalil, told Politico. 3 The Trump administration claims Khalil engaged in pro-Hamas activities at Columbia University and hid information about his background on his green card application. James Keivom 3 Khalil has been held in a Louisiana detention facility since March. REUTERS Farbiarz, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, noted that Khalil has 'a number of avenues' for release still available, including filing a bail application with the immigration judge handling his case. 'To the extent the Petitioner requests relief from this Court, the request is denied,' the judge wrote. On Wednesday, Farbiarz determined that it was 'overwhelmingly likely' that the alleged green card application was not the reason for his detainment, but rather Secretary of State Marco Rubio's initial decision to revoke his legal status over his role in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University. The Trump administration claims Khalil engaged in activities 'aligned to Hamas,' the Palestinian terror group, while attending the Ivy League School.

Four migrants escape from ICE detention centre
Four migrants escape from ICE detention centre

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Four migrants escape from ICE detention centre

Four migrants have escaped a detention centre in New Jersey amid reports of a possible uprising. The men, whom authorities say are 'public safety threats', broke out of Newark's Delaney Hall facility on Thursday, where individuals are being held ahead of possible deportation proceedings. According to reports, they were able to push down an outer wall and escape the property, which was recently converted into a detention centre at a cost of $1 billion as part of Donald Trump's mass deportation drive. The men have been identified as Franklin Norberto Bautista-Reyes, Joel Enrique Sandoval-Lopez, Joan Sebastian Castaneda-Lozada and Andres Pineda-Mogollon, who are Honduran and Colombian nationals. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to their arrests. On Thursday night, reports emerged of a possible uprising and breakout at the facility, as protesters, demonstrating against the Trump administration's deportation push, locked arms and pushed against barricades as vehicles passed through the gates. Precisely what unfolded inside Delaney Hall is still unclear. Amy Torres, the executive director of New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, claimed officers had pepper sprayed and dragged protesters away from the facility. Mustafa Cetis, a lawyer acting for one of the migrants, said detainees had turned 'aggressive' and 'violent' amid arguments with authorities over food. 'Based on what he told me it was an outer wall, not very strong, and they were able to push it down,' he continued. DHS said in a statement that it 'has become aware of four detainees at the privately held Delaney Hall Detention facility escaping', adding that 'additional law enforcement partners have been brought in to find these escapees'. Delaney Hall has been the site of clashes this year between Democratic officials, who say the facility needs more oversight, and the authorities. Last month, LaMonica McIver, a Democrat congresswoman, was charged with assaulting federal officers stemming from a skirmish that happened outside the facility after a visit to the centre. Ms McIver said in a statement that she had 'serious concerns about the reports of abusive circumstances at the facility,' and that her office had reached out to immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) for answers. On Friday, Democrat Ras Baraka, the mayor of Newark, who has been critical of Mr Trump's immigration crackdown, called for an end to this 'chaos and not allow this operation to continue unchecked'. 'We are concerned about reports of what has transpired at Delaney Hall this evening, ranging from withholding food and poor treatment, to uprising and escaped detainees,' he said. In a statement issued on Friday, American Friends Service Committee said people inside the facility reported getting small portions of food, with breakfast at 6am, dinner at 10pm and no lunch. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store