The Trump administration is threatening to pull federal funding from New York City's transit system until it complies with requests on subway crime.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter Tuesday to transit CEO Janno Lieber where he asked for crime statistics and current plans to reduce crime on subways.

"The trend of violent crime, homelessness, and other threats to public safety on one of our nation's most prominent metro systems is unacceptable," the letter reads, according to Fox News. "After years of soft-on-crime policies, our Department is stepping in to restore order."

Duffy said that the administration wants to ensure that tax dollars are being spent on a "crime-free commute."

New York City has made headlines over the past few months due to subway crime. In December of 2024, a woman died after being set on fire on the subway. 

On New Year's Eve, a man was charged with attempted murder for shoving another man onto the subway tracks.

Former New York governor and mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo released a subway safety plan in order to combat crime on the subway.

The MTA responded to Duffy's letter and said that crime has decreased 40% since before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Part of the plan is to increase the presence of transit cops by 50%. This would mean over 4,000 transit cops would be present.

"Restoring subway safety requires a sustained, results-driven approach with clear accountability," Cuomo's plan reads. "Andrew Cuomo’s administration will treat subway safety as a top priority that is managed with clear goals, transparent reporting, and community engagement."