New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the federal government for cutting crucial security funding for New York’s public transportation system on October 9th. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was supposed to receive $34 million in federal transit security grant program funds to support anti-terrorism and transportation security functions. However, last week, MTA was informed that they would not be receiving this funding, a move that Hochul described as “shocking.”
“Since the 9/11 attacks, New York has relied on federal support to ensure our transportation system has the necessary anti-terrorism resources to protect the safety of millions of passengers every day,” the governor said. “The shocking actions of Washington Republicans in cutting these funds and police funding put New York City in danger. We will not tolerate these cuts; New York will take all necessary actions— including legal recourse— to ensure MTA receives crucial funding to transport millions of passengers safely.”
The transit security grant program was initiated after the 9/11 attacks. These grants, managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), aim to support critical functions to protect public transportation systems from security threats. MTA carries a daily ridership of 6 million passengers from the Metro-North Railroad, Long Island Railroad, and New York City subway.
MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber stated that MTA has made significant progress in safety, reliability, and ridership, and that “Washington’s reduction of funding for the NYPD and MTA patrol officers is truly absurd.”
Jessica Tisch, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, said, “The anti-terrorism operations of the NYPD are crucial for ensuring the safety of subway, surface, and underground passengers. Refusing to provide these key funds to America’s busiest transportation system is a serious mistake that will significantly reduce the security of the New York City subway.”
Following reports that MTA would not receive funding from the transit security grant program, the New York State Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit in the Southern District Court of New York, which issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting FEMA from implementing the cuts.
Last week, Governor Hochul successfully secured the reinstatement of $187 million in critical anti-terrorism and homeland security funding previously cut under the Department of Homeland Security’s plan.