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chicago Transit authorities increased security on the public transit system on Friday, a day after Pres. donald trumpThe administration reiterated its threat to withhold $50 million in federal funding unless it delivers a more aggressive crime-reduction plan.
Chicago Police Department Increased its daily presence on the city’s transit system by 56% from 77 to 120 officers. Private security K-9 units will increase by 10% to 188.
A day earlier, the Federal Transit Administration had delivered a letter to CTA Chair Nora Leerhsen demanding a more comprehensive plan to reduce crime than the one presented last Monday, reprimanding the CTA for failing to target a significant decline in crime in each of the next six months, and ordering that a planned safety “bounce” be immediately implemented.
Authorities have called for tougher action after 26-year-old Bethany McGee was doused with gasoline and set on fire on a City L train in November. Federal prosecutors have charged Lawrence Reed, 50, of Chicago, with terroristic attack, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
In Thursday’s letter, the administration said the CTA’s plan fails to meet federal demands that it set a goal for each of the next six months to reduce assaults on employees and riders and increase safety. It said CTA’s monthly goals for limiting assaults on employees and riders were the same for January through March.
“By proposing flat targets for the entire first quarter of the December 15 plan, the CTA failed to set targets showing reductions for ‘each’ month as required by the order,” wrote Marcus Molinaro, head of the Federal Transit Administration.
Molinaro said the agency “requires full implementation of security enhancements” so that “the impact of the increased law enforcement presence is immediate” and evident in crime-reduction goals going forward.
The CTA has 90 days to meet the federal government’s demands or remain without funding.
CTA spokeswoman Katherine Hosinski would not comment on ongoing discussions with federal officials, but she said the transit system’s budget approved in early November includes $5 million for increased security.
The surge has led to an increased presence of Chicago police officers who volunteer to be on duty on their days off. This is in addition to regular police patrols of CTA property.
Chicago police officers “are at the core of CTA’s multi-layered safety strategy,” Leerhausen said in a statement. “We expect to have additional police and K-9 presence on our system to further increase security visibility.”
The number of violent crimes reported at CTA locations in 2025 through Thursday was 933, down 18 from 2024, according to police.
A statewide transit overhaul was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker Tuesday marked an investment of more than $1.5 billion annually in public transportation and includes long-range safety and security initiatives.