STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Tens of millions of dollars attained for the Arthur Kill Terminal has been axed under the direction of President Donald Trump.
Arthur Kill Terminal, which has been in the planning stages for over five years, is meant to function as a specialized port at the foot of the Outerbridge Crossing where offshore wind turbines and towers could be assembled and staged before being brought out to sea.
The project lost $48 million worth of federal funding after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy pulled money for a dozen offshore wind projects in Trump’s bid to push America away from green, sustainable energy.
“We’re not going to do the wind thing. Big, ugly wind mills. They ruin your neighborhood,” said Trump at his inauguration on Jan. 20.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, this action will ensure that funds are directed toward restoring the maritime dominance of the U.S. and minimizing wasteful spending.
The $48 million figure matches the amount that Sen. Chuck Schumer got for the terminal back in 2022.
Part of that funding was meant to be used to dredge 740,000 cubic yards to create a basin 35-feet deep to support development at the site, which will contain a 1,365-foot wharf that has enhanced load-bearing capacity. Another chunk of funding was intend towards creating a visitor’s center, which will be developed from a “dilapidated” historical house that is nestled in the corner of the terminal’s property, according to AOT President and CEO Boone Davis.
BP Fossella celebrates decision
Despite having overwhelming bipartisan support from every other elected official on Staten Island, Borough President Vito Fossella said the move to slash funding “is a decisive chance to pursue a smarter, more sustainable economic development plan for Staten Island’s South Shore.”
“We were skeptical of the suitability of this site, viewing the massive, long-term funding required as both risky and overly ambitious. Moreover, we were concerned about the potential environmental damage and the risk of burdening the community with abandoned infrastructure if the project collapsed. Those fears were justified—and here we are,” Fossella said in a written statement. “Moving forward, we will collaborate with City and State agencies to champion alternative plans that truly prioritize the best interests of the Staten Island community.”
It is also worth noting that the project did pass through Fossella’s office during the terminal’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, where he was given a chance to make recommendations in 2024 before it went to the City Planning Commission and City Council for approval.
Rep. Malliotakis tried saving ‘vital’ Terminal
This is a drastic shift from the work that Rep. Nicole Malliotakis did in April, when she petitioned two high-level military officials to approve a permit for the construction of Arthur Kill Terminal on Staten Island’s South Shore.
In an April 4 letter to Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll, the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ Chief of Engineers, and Commanding General William Graham, Jr., Malliotakis wrote: “Arthur Kill Terminal is a vital economic development project for my district… I encourage you to expedite the final review and authorization of this permit.”
Malliotakis issued the following statement to the Advance/SILive.com: “We are working with Secretary Duffy to get the funding repurposed to another maritime, port infrastructure or economic development project that would benefit Staten Island. The permitting work I did in April is for the development of the port, but not specific to any one project.”
The construction of this terminal was set to produce 750 union jobs, which have been hanging in the balance for months due to Trump’s executive order, halting the permitting process around offshore wind facilities.
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