Trump admin threatens to cut MTA funding amid congestion pricing deadline
Trump admin threatens to cut MTA funding
The Trump administration is threatening to withhold federal funding from New York City’s transit system unless the MTA provides a detailed plan to address subway crime, fare evasion, and safety concerns. FOX 5's Antwan Lewis has the latest.
NEW YORK - The Trump administration is threatening to pull federal funding from the MTA ahead of the deadline for congestion pricing on Friday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a two-page letter to MTA Chair and CEO Jana Lieber, demanding the agency explain its efforts to address rising crime on the subway system.
Featured
NYC crime declines again in February, breaking 30-year shooting record, NYPD says
According to NYPD statistics, major crime in February was down 14.5% across all five boroughs for the third month in a row.
The move signals Trump's two-pronged attack, actively setting the stage to withhold federal funding—even if it loses in court over congestion pricing.
However, they claim the crackdown is over the MTA's handling of subway crime.
Dig deeper:
The letter, Thursday, requests detailed transit data, including a recent incident at a subway station in Chelsea where a man was shoved in front of an oncoming #1 train, suffering severe injuries.
What they're saying:
Duffy wants data by the end of the month on transit worker assaults, fare evasion, and customer assaults over the past two years, threatening to cut funding if the MTA doesn't comply.
Featured
Suspect arrested after man pushed in front of NYC subway train: police
The suspect, 23-year-old Kamel Hawkins, has been charged with second-degree attempted murder and second-degree assault.
Duffy is also seeking information on injuries and deaths related to subway surfing.
The letter warned that failure to cooperate with the federal government’s demands could result in consequences, including the potential loss of billions in federal funding that the MTA heavily relies on.
The other side:
In response, an MTA official stated that the agency is already actively discussing its crime-fighting efforts, adding that transit crime has been on the decline in recent months.
Will Trump end congestion pricing?
Why you should care:
Although Duffy's letter made no mention of congestion pricing, the Trump administration has given the city until Friday to turn off its congestion pricing cameras.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul continues to reaffirm her stance, including during a recent meeting with President Trump last week, where she asserted that the cameras would remain on.
"The cameras are staying on," Hochul told reporters, emphasizing that the congestion pricing program will continue, delivering both improved traffic conditions and economic benefits for New York.
What's next:
Despite the federal threats, MTA Chair Jana Lieber seems confident that the state will prevail in the ongoing fight over congestion pricing.
The deadline for New York to comply with the federal request is rapidly approaching, but state officials remain determined to continue with the program as planned.
The dispute over congestion pricing remains one of the key local issues, with both sides bracing for a potential legal showdown.
Does Trump have the power to end congestion pricing?
MTA, Hochul fight to keep congestion pricing
New York's congestion pricing plan faces a challenge from the Trump administration, which has ordered the state to halt the program by Friday.
FOX 5 NY's Linda Schmidt spoke with Bennett Gershman, a law professor at Pace University. He agrees with Hochul, saying Congress is the authority with power to terminate the toll, not the president.
"[The FHA] can't flout the authorization by Congress," he said. "Congress has to repeal this law, or they have to work out a plan to implement the law the way they want to, but this is something that Congress has given to the city, the power to do this."
He also said the MTA's lawsuit will prevent the federal government from ending congestion pricing by Friday.