A Trump Administration Official has said the MBTA is at risk of losing its federal funding.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy issued a statement on Friday calling for “immediate action and accountability” following recent incidents on the transit system including an elderly woman being shoved off a bus and a separate incident last month where an individual was accused of removing his belt and assaulting riders.
A similar warning was sent to the Chicago Transit Authority with Duffy saying both cities “allow cashless bail, which allows deranged criminals to repeatedly terrorize public spaces.”
Duffy asked that both systems send him written reports within 14 days that “Identify what actions have been taken and are being taken by the transit agency to deter crime, stop fare evasion, and provide a clean environment for passengers riding its transit system” and “Summarize all sources of funds for fiscal year 2025 and 2026 relating to security, safety, and any funds from Federal agencies, including any Department of Homeland Security funds.”
Similar letters were previously sent to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
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