Exclusive | Trump admin demands MTA fork over NYC subway crime data or risk billons in federal funding

Get on board with subway safety or hop off the gravy train.President Trump’s transportation chief demanded the MTA fork over data on plants to tackle subway crime and safety — or else risk losing federal funding, a letter obtained by The Post shows.The nation’s largest transit agency needs to show it’s properly using federal tax dollars to ensure a crime-free commute, said US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.“The trend of violent crime, homelessness, and other threats to public safety on one of our nation’s most prominent metro systems is unacceptable,” he said in a statement.“After years of soft-on-crime policies, our Department is stepping in to restore order.”The oversight letter that Duffy sent Tuesday to Metropolitan Transportation Authority honcho Janno Lieber gives the agency until March 31 to provide a swath of information on assaults on straphangers, subway surfing and fare evasion.Duffy argued that a number of high-profile incidents on the New York City transit system raised concerns over whether the MTA had used federal funds to actually ensure the safety of passengers and workers.“The expectation is that (New York City Transit Authority) will address this matter promptly to ensure compliance and avoid further (Federal Transit Administration) enforcement actions up to and including redirecting or withholding funding,” the letter warns.How much federal money that could be redirected or withheld from the MTA was unclear.MTA officials anticipate needing upwards of $14 billion from the federal government over the next five years to carry out an ambitious capital plan.

The amount could change, however, as Congress decides every five years what that funding amount should be — and it’s up again in 2026.The letter largely demands information, such as crimes in the subway system and fare evasion, that is already publicly available.It also seeks information about funds from “all sources” that are budgeted toward improving straphang...