The Trump administration has warned that it may withhold federal funding from the agency overseeing the New York City subway system unless the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) provides requested information regarding transit crime.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to Janno Lieber, the MTA’s CEO, asking for details on how the authority plans to address crime and safety incidents within the subway network. The letter, which was sent Tuesday, also requested information on issues such as fare evasion, criminal activity, and measures being taken to mitigate these problems, as well as funding priorities. The MTA was given a deadline of March 31 to provide the requested information. Duffy emphasized, “People traveling on the NYCT subway system to reach their jobs, education, health care and other critical services need to feel secure and travel in a safe environment,” adding, “I appreciate your attention to this matter to avoid further consequences, up to and including redirecting or withholding funding.”
John J. McCarthy, the MTA’s chief of policy and external relations, responded by expressing the agency’s willingness to engage with Duffy about its crime reduction and fare evasion efforts. He shared some positive news, stating, “The good news is numbers are moving in the right direction.” McCarthy noted that crime has decreased by 40% compared to 2020 and that, as of this year, there are fewer major crimes occurring in transit than during any non-pandemic year.
Duffy’s letter is just the latest move by the Trump administration to involve itself in local matters. The White House has also been pushing to block New York’s congestion pricing plan, which aims to raise $15 billion to fund infrastructure improvements for the MTA. In response, the MTA has filed a lawsuit to challenge the directive. Beyond New York, Duffy has initiated a review of California’s high-speed rail project, and the administration has generally made threats to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities.
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has made combating transit crime a central focus of her administration following a series of high-profile incidents. In December, she announced the deployment of 250 additional National Guard members to the subway system, raising the total number of National Guard personnel to 1,000. The New York City police department has also increased its presence on the subway. A representative for Hochul did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Fare evasion has shown signs of improvement as well. MTA data reveals that about 10% of subway riders were skipping fares at the end of 2024, down from 14% in June.
{Matzav.com}

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