Overview

• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's letter demands the MTA provide data on subway crime, fare evasion, and safety measures, citing high-profile violent incidents as a cause for concern.
• The Trump administration has tied the ultimatum to broader public safety issues, including homelessness and mental health challenges in New York City.
• The MTA argues that much of the requested data is already publicly available and highlights a 40% drop in subway crime compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2020.
• The funding threat intensifies existing tensions between the federal government and New York over the city's congestion pricing program, which is subject to ongoing litigation.
• Losing federal funding could severely impact the MTA's operations, as it relies on $14 billion from federal grants for its next five-year capital plan.