The transportation secretary said he would revoke federal approval for the program, citing the cost to motorists; the Metropolitan Transportation Authority quickly filed a lawsuit to stop the move.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is withdrawing its support for New York City’s controversial congestion pricing plan and will discuss with the state and stakeholders how to end the program, the agency announced Wednesday.

New York City’s transit system started charging motorists on Jan. 5 a fee to drive into crowded midtown Manhattan. The aim of this congestion pricing initiative, the first in the US, is to reduce traffic and pollution while raising money for the city’s subways,