Feds Threaten To Withhold MTA Funding Over Subway Crime: Reports

NEW YORK CITY — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has told the MTA that it would withhold federal funding if the agency doesn't crack down on crime and homelessness in the subway system.

In a Tuesday letter, sent to MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, Duffy requested the agency's statistics on assaults, fare evasion and subway surfing. In addition, federal officials has asked the MTA to give them documents of all the money spent on fare enforcement and safety in New York City subways.

The MTA has been given a March 31 deadline to hand in the requested information.

"The trend of violent crime, homelessness, and other threats to public safety on one of our nation's most prominent metro systems is unacceptable. After years of soft-on-crime policies, our Department is stepping in to restore order," Duffy said in a separate statement on Tuesday.

"People travelling on the subway system to reach their jobs, education, health care and other critical services need to feel secure and travel in a safe environment free of crime," the letter read. "... The transit riders and workers of New York City deserve nothing less."

“I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter to avoid further consequences, up to and including redirecting or withholding funding,” Duffy added.

MTA Chief of Policy and External Relations John J. McCarthy released the following statement in response to Duffy's letter:

"We are happy to discuss with Secretary Duffy our efforts, alongside the NYPD, to reduce crime and fare evasion. The good news is numbers are moving in the right direction: crime is down 40% compared to the same period in 2020 right before the pandemic, and so far in 2025 there are fewer daily major crimes in transit than any non-pandemic year ever. Moreover, in the second half of last year, subway fare evasion was down 25% after increasing dramatically during Covid."

Lieber told reporters on Wednesday that the agency has "done so much to improve subway safety."

He said he plans to speak to Duffy directly in the coming days.

This is a developing story. This post may be updated.