Transportation Secretary Warns of Potential Funding Cuts to NYC Transit Due to Crime Concerns

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has issued a warning to the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), stating that vital federal funding may be at risk unless the agency presents a solid strategy to tackle crime and safety concerns within the city’s subway and bus networks.

The letter requires the MTA to submit a comprehensive report by March 31 outlining the measures being implemented to enhance safety for both passengers and employees, or face possible enforcement actions from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which may include the withholding or reallocation of federal funds.

“The rising rates of violent crime, homelessness, and other threats to public safety in one of our nation’s key metro systems is unacceptable,” Duffy commented in a press release.

“After years of lenient crime policies, our Department is stepping in to restore order. Commuters are fed up with feeling that their safety is compromised just to get to work, attend school, or navigate the city. We will continue to advocate for ensuring that their federal tax dollars are allocated towards a crime-free transit experience.”

The directive requires the MTA to share details about its initiatives to combat criminal activities, safeguard transit staff, and prevent fare evasion.

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The agency is required to track trends in assaults on transit workers and the measures taken to prevent such incidents, which include de-escalation training, the installation of video surveillance, and increased police patrols. The MTA must also share the latest data and efforts related to fare evasion mitigation.

Moreover, the letter insists that the MTA delineate its actions to combat criminal behaviors, covering assaults on passengers and issues like subway surfing and suicides. The agency must also provide a funding breakdown for security initiatives, detailing both federal and non-federal resources.

Last year, the FTA mandated that major transit agencies evaluate and address the assaults on transit workers. The MTA was among nine agencies required to submit documentation regarding their measures to manage safety risks confronting their workforce.

This directive from the Trump administration is part of broader efforts to enhance security across significant transit systems nationwide. Duffy suggested that similar evaluations could be applied to transit systems in Chicago and Washington if improvements are not realized.

The MTA relies on a blend of local, state, and federal funding to operate New York City’s subways, buses, and regional rail systems. Its five-year capital strategy up to 2029 anticipates approximately $14 billion in federal grants and financing. The potential loss of federal funds could greatly affect planned upgrades and service enhancements.

John McCarthy, the agency’s chief of policy and external relations, communicated in a statement to The Epoch Times that the agency was willing to engage in discussions with Duffy about the MTA and NYPD’s initiatives aimed at reducing crime and fare evasion.

“The encouraging news is that statistics are moving in a positive direction: crime rates have decreased by 40 percent in comparison to the same period in 2020 before the pandemic, and so far in 2025, daily major crimes in transit are at their lowest levels of any non-pandemic year,” he stated.

“Additionally, in the latter half of last year, subway fare evasion decreased by 25 percent after a significant rise during Covid.”

Duffy also pointed out that shocking crimes, such as a woman being set on fire on a train in December and a man being pushed onto the tracks in January, have generated anxiety among riders.

“Residents of the city have expressed their support for expanded services for individuals facing mental health challenges to specifically tackle some of these safety issues,” Duffy noted in his correspondence.

In recent years, officials have heightened security measures, including the deployment of more police officers within the transit system and strategies aimed at curtailing fare evasion.

Last year, New York Governor Kathy Hochul also assigned National Guard members to some of the city’s busiest subway stations to deter criminal activities.

However, despite an overall decline in major felonies in recent years, assaults within the transit system have surged, increasing from 373 in 2019 to 579 in 2024, according to the New York City Police Department.

Public concerns have been fueled by high-profile attacks on passengers, including cases of individuals being shoved onto tracks or assaulted inside train cars.

Additionally, the MTA faces a separate deadline of March 21 to comply with a federal mandate to discontinue Manhattan’s congestion pricing system, a toll initiative designed to alleviate traffic and generate transit funding.

The administration’s letter to the MTA does not mention congestion pricing. However, both issues reflect broader policy disagreements related to the management of the city’s transportation system.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.