The Donald Trump Administration has issued a threat to pull federal funding from Chicago‘s public transit system following the attack of a woman on a Chicago train last month, according to a report from the Associated Press (AP).
In a letter sent to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on Monday, Federal Transit Authority Administrator Marc Molina demanded that the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) create and enforce a new safety plan with the deadline set for December 19.
While the letter didn’t make any specific demands on safety changes, Molina referenced the attack of Beth MaGee on Chicago’s Blue Line, saying in part, “I will not accept the brutal assault of an innocent 26-year-old woman as an inevitable cost of providing public transportation.”
The 50-year-old suspect, Lawrence Reed, has been charged with federal terrorism after he allegedly doused MaGee with gasoline and set her on fire in an attack described by officials as “barbaric” and premeditated. He faces a possible life sentence if convicted.
“Public safety is the top of my top priorities,” Mayor Johnson said during a press conference Tuesday, adding, “That’s why we are working on ensuring that we make the necessary investments so that people will continue to ride our public transportation system and that they can do it safely.”
Newsweek reached out to the White House and Governor Pritzker by email on Tuesday for comment.
Why It Matters
The incident and subsequent threats from the federal government have intensified the national debate on public safety, transit funding, and criminal justice reform in major U.S. cities.
The attack exposed gaps in pretrial release policies and transit security, reigniting political tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic-led cities like Chicago.
The situation places the nation’s third-largest transit system in jeopardy of losing crucial federal support, potentially affecting millions of daily commuters and workers.
What To Know
On November 17, MaGee was doused with gasoline and set on fire while riding the CTA Blue Line in downtown Chicago.
According to court records, the alleged attacker, identified as Reed, a 50-year-old Chicago man, had an extensive criminal record and was on electronic monitoring for a previous aggravated battery case.
Reed was arrested the following day and charged with a federal terrorism offense, which carries a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.
Just a few weeks after the attack, Molinaro demanded that Chicago officials develop and implement an updated safety plan for public transit by December 19.
The FTA directive calls for a “significant” increase in law enforcement or security presence on the CTA system and threatens to freeze up to 25 percent of Chicago’s federal transit grants — a loss that could impair operations and maintenance, The Chicago Tribune reported.
Molinaro’s letter described the attack as evidence of “systemic failures in both leadership and accountability at all levels,” stating, “If CTA does not take immediate action to increase its law enforcement presence, we will withhold federal funds.”
The confrontation is just the latest in ongoing disputes between the Trump administration and Illinois officials over immigration enforcement, the deployment of National Guard troops, and funding allocations for infrastructure.
Both the mayor and the governor have condemned the attack but have signaled resistance to what they characterize as the federal politicization of local tragedies.
The Trump administration’s stance comes despite data indicating a drop in certain violent crimes on CTA property over the past year, though attacks like the one on MaGee continue to draw widespread scrutiny, according to The Chicago Tribune.
The CTA confirmed receipt of the FTA’s directive and stated it would respond within the requested timeline. Mayor Johnson indicated during a City Hall press briefing that his administration took transit safety seriously but criticized federal attempts to dictate the city’s priorities, Chicago Business reported.
What People Are Saying
Marc Molinaro, Federal Transit Authority Administrator, letter to city officials, according to the Associated Press: “I will not accept the brutal assault of an innocent 26-year-old woman as an inevitable cost of providing public transportation.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson, City of Chicago, press briefing Tuesday: “The feeling and the emotion and the experience of having crime occur on our public transportation system is certainly detrimental to our city as a whole, and so that’s why, whether it’s with funding, making sure that there are safety and security measures in place, making sure that our public transportation system is supported with entities that address homelessness and as well as mental health, it’s a full, full force of government approach, and we’re going to continue to collaborate with the state and economy and all of our partners to ensure that every single rider feels absolutely safe.”
JB Pritzker, Democrat Governor of Illinois, said in a statement reported by Crain’s Chicago Business: “Instead of focusing on serious, coordinated solutions, the Trump administration is politicizing a heinous tragedy and doing nothing that makes our communities safer. Illinois remains focused on real, sustained strategies that improve public safety for riders, workers and families.”
Update 12/9/25 1:55 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with more information.
This report contains reporting from the Associated Press.