Trump administration allocates $42 million to restart Constitution Pipeline
The Trump administration announced on Oct. 19, 2026 that it will allocate up to $42 million under the Defense Production Act to revive the Constitution Pipeline, a 125‑mile natural‑gas line slated to carry gas from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale to New York and New England.
The funding, provided through Title III of the Defense Production Act, is earmarked for pre‑construction activities and the extensive permitting work still needed to move the project forward. The Department of Energy confirmed the money will help cover environmental reviews, engineering studies, and site‑preparation costs.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum told Fox Business the pipeline is “one of the most obvious pieces of infrastructure that’s missing in America,” adding that it was permitted twelve years ago but later cancelled by the Democratic leadership in New York. He said the project will lower energy costs for New Yorkers and benefit the broader New England region.
The Constitution Pipeline, sometimes referred to by advocates as the “New York Affordability Pipeline,” was first approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2014. New York state officials denied a crucial water‑quality permit in 2016, leading to the project’s cancellation in 2020. Williams Companies, the developer, has since sought to re‑issue its federal certificate and is targeting the fourth quarter of 2028 for service entry, pending final approvals.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized that “the answer to high prices is more supply to push prices down,” and noted the funding will help advance the pipeline to reduce the risk of blackouts during peak winter demand.
While the administration frames the investment as a step toward lower heating bills and a more resilient energy grid, opponents argue the pipeline could face continued legal and regulatory hurdles. Critics point out that New York’s Democratic‑controlled state government and environmental groups have long opposed the project, and a change in federal administration after the 2028 election could jeopardize the funding and permits.
Project supporters estimate that billions of dollars in excess energy costs were incurred by New York consumers during the previous winter. They argue that the revived pipeline, with a 30‑inch diameter and a capacity of up to 650,000 dekatherms per day, would help mitigate those costs and support regional power reliability.
The next milestone is securing the remaining state and federal permits required for construction, which officials hope to obtain in the coming months. If approvals are granted, construction could begin in spring, aiming for service by the winter of 2028.
