By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Trump administration is replacing lawyers in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan after they mistakenly filed an internal government letter that raised significant doubts about the Transportation Department’s efforts to terminate New York’s congestion pricing program.

Lawyers for the U.S. Attorney’s Office incorrectly submitted an April 11 letter late on Wednesday indicating that it was very unlikely Judge Lewis Liman or other courts would uphold Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s decision.

A spokesperson for Duffy stated that the defense of the government’s initiative to end congestion pricing would now be managed by the Justice Department’s Civil Division in Washington, rather than the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan. The Justice Department did not respond immediately.

Duffy’s spokesperson criticized the U.S. Attorney’s Office lawyers, suggesting either incompetence or a deliberate attempt to obstruct the process. “At the very least, it’s legal malpractice. It’s sad to see a premier legal organization continue to fall into such disgrace,” the spokesperson remarked.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office earlier termed the filing an “honest error” and emphasized it was unintentional. Upon realizing the mistake, steps were taken to have the document removed. The office expressed its commitment to advocate vigorously for its clients, the DOT and Federal Highway Administration.

The office issued an apology for the error in a letter to Judge Liman on Thursday and requested that the filing be sealed.

New York launched its first-in-the-nation program in early January that charges most passenger vehicles a $9 toll during peak periods to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street to mitigate congestion and generate funds for mass transit improvements.

Duffy informed New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday that the USDOT may withhold environmental approvals or funding for projects if the state does not end the congestion pricing program. This week, Hochul ignored a deadline set by Duffy to terminate the program. Her office stated that the government’s filing “doesn’t change the facts: congestion pricing is legal, it’s working, and the cameras are staying on.”

Environmental group Evergreen Action commented, stating that government lawyers expressed the situation better than they could, asserting that “Duffy’s case is flimsy, and his illegal order is falling apart.”

The USDOT under Democratic President Joe Biden had previously approved the congestion program in November, which is monitored via electronic license plate readers. U.S. approval is necessary because it involves tolls on federal highways.

Officials claim the program, following the examples of London and Singapore, has significantly reduced traffic and improved the flow of vehicles. Opponents, including Duffy, argue it takes money from working people and deprives drivers of free highway options.