Concerns Over Subway Safety
The concept of mass transportation in major cities is a daunting one for conservative minds. Recently, Sean Duffy, Donald Trump’s pick for the Department of Transportation, has demanded that New York City officials provide a list of actions to reduce crime on the subway system, threatening to withhold federal funds if they fail to comply.

Requirements for Funding
In a letter to New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority head Janno Lieber, Duffy requested a detailed list of "actions and plans to reduce crime on its system," including strategies to address assaults, fare evasions, and "subway surfing." The MTA has until March 31 to respond, or face potential "enforcement actions up to and including redirecting or withholding funding." However, the specifics of these cuts remain unclear.

High-Profile Crimes
There have been several high-profile crimes on New York’s subway in recent years, including a woman being set on fire, the killing of a homeless man, and incidents of people being pushed in front of trains. These cases have contributed to a perceived sense of danger on the subway.

Contrasting Crime Statistics
Despite these high-profile incidents, overall crime on the subway has actually decreased by 5.4% year-over-year, according to NYPD statistics, and by 40% since the pre-pandemic period, as reported by MTA Chief of Policy and External Relations John McCarthy. In 2024, there were 1.2 billion rides on the subway, with only 2,211 reported crimes. An analysis of 2023 transit data found that about 1 in every 740,000 rides experiences assault, and about 1 in every 1 million experiences harassment.

Perception of Safety
However, for many people, perception is reality. As noted by Vital City, a journal focused on New York City issues, factors such as dilapidated infrastructure and a visible police presence can contribute to a sense of unease, even if crime rates are low. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has deployed 1,000 additional law enforcement officers to the subway as part of her plan to increase safety.

Impact of Funding Cuts
Cutting off funding to the subway system is unlikely to improve safety. The MTA has approximately $14 billion in federal funds earmarked for the next five years, which will be used to restore critical infrastructure, including upgrading decades-old systems. The Trump administration’s challenges to the MTA’s congestion pricing program in Manhattan have already hindered funding for these initiatives. Instead of addressing safety concerns, the administration’s actions seem to prioritize winning a political battle.

Tensions Between the City and the Administration
The congestion pricing program, which generated $50 million in its first month, is currently tied up in court. The Trump administration’s Department of Transportation is now attempting to extract concessions from the city, which may be more focused on achieving a political victory than genuinely improving subway safety.