Duffy warns Chicago, Boston transit might lose federal help over security

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Friday that Chicago and Boston are prone to shedding federal help except native leaders swiftly take steps to enhance security on their transit techniques.

In a Friday information launch, Duffy condemned what he described as the 2 cities’ "failure" to guard riders and transit staff, citing a string of violent incidents on the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) — two of the nation’s largest transit techniques.

Amongst them have been the assault of a 27-year CTA veteran who was punched and thrown onto the tracks, an aged girl shoved off an MBTA bus, and a case during which a person used his belt to assault passengers, as famous within the Division of Transportation's news release .

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" President Trump cares about our nice cities and the hardworking People who inhabit them," Duffy mentioned in an announcement. "Whereas native leaders appear intent on placing the wants of criminals first, we’re not ready for the following Iryna. Chicago and Boston are on discover to take actions that improve security and cut back the crime affecting their riders and transit staff – or threat federal help. That is about standing up for American households who deserve a secure and clear transportation system."

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy testifies throughout a listening to earlier than the Home Appropriations Committee within the Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing on Could 14, in Washington, D.C. (Samuel Corum/Getty Photographs)

In formal letters to CTA Appearing President Nora Leerhsen and MBTA Basic Supervisor Phillip Eng, Duffy directed both agencies to submit written reviews inside 14 days detailing what steps have been taken to curb crime, cease fare evasion and enhance cleanliness.

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The reviews should additionally summarize funding sources for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 associated to security and safety, together with any funds from federal businesses just like the Department of Homeland Security.

Duffy additionally criticized each cities’ cashless bail insurance policies, which he mentioned enable "deranged criminals to repeatedly terrorize public area."

MBTA Transit Police launched images of the suspect needed in reference to an assault on a Boston public bus that left an aged girl injured on Sept. 8. The girl was taken into custody on Sept. 17, following authorities asking for the general public’s assist in figuring out the suspect. (MBTA Transit Police)

Following the incident of the aged girl who was shoved off of a Massachusetts bus and violently slammed to the bottom, MBTA Basic Supervisor Phillip Eng mentioned Thursday that security is the company’s high precedence and pressured that such conduct wouldn't be tolerated. He additionally reminded riders they will report issues anonymously at any time by way of the See Say app.

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"Security will at all times be on the forefront of every thing we do, and I’m happy with the immediate response and investigation by the MBTA Transit Police that led to the arrest of this particular person," Eng mentioned in an announcement. "The general public deserves a secure transportation system, and I would like them to know that this conduct won't be tolerated wherever on our system."

White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks alongside a photograph of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was allegedly killed by Decarlos Brown Jr. (R), on a light-weight rail prepare in Charlotte, North Carolina, throughout a press briefing within the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White Home in Washington, DC, September 9, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

The letters are the newest in Duffy’s push for transit businesses to curb fare evasion and enhance security. Earlier this yr, he issued related warnings to transit techniques in Washington, New York, and Los Angeles, as famous within the information launch.

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Final month, 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was fatally attacked on a North Carolina light-rail prepare — a case that sparked nationwide outrage.

The CTA and MBTA didn't instantly reply to Fox Information Digital's request for remark.

Sophia Compton is a Author at Fox Information Digital. Sophia was beforehand a enterprise reporter protecting finance, power and tourism and has expertise as a TV information producer. She graduated with a journalism diploma in 2021 from the College of Hawaii at Manoa.