Trump Admin Threatens to Cut Chicago Transit Funds After Train Attack

The Trump administration has issued a stern ultimatum to Chicago officials after a brutal attack on a 26-year-old woman aboard the city’s train system warning that federal transit funding may be cut if immediate safety measures aren’t taken.

Bethany MaGee was doused in gasoline and set on fire in an unprovoked assault last month while riding a CTA train. The attacker, Lawrence Reed, had a jaw-dropping 70+ prior arrests and 15 criminal convictions, yet was somehow still roaming the streets of Democrat-run Chicago.

Now, the federal government is stepping in.

Marc Molinaro, Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, sent a scathing letter Monday to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, blasting their inaction and failure to maintain law and order on public transit.

“The attack on Ms. MaGee was preventable,” Molinaro wrote. “Transit leaders and elected officials who fail to enforce basic laws… are making deliberate choices that endanger riders.”

He warned that unless Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) immediately increases law enforcement presence, the FTA would begin withholding federal transit funds a move that could cripple the already strained system.

Key points from the FTA ultimatum:

• Violent crime on Chicago transit is 4x the national average.

• Assaults on passengers have surged 150% in just five years.

• Chicago officials must implement “immediate, measurable, corrective actions” or face financial penalties.

• The CTA must revise its safety plan and increase police presence on buses and trains.

Molinaro didn’t mince words in blaming the progressive leadership of Chicago and Illinois for the rising tide of lawlessness. His letter called out the city’s “failure to take the necessary steps to keep the public safe,” and added:

“I will not accept the brutal assault of an innocent 26-year-old woman as an inevitable cost of providing public transportation.”

Yet, Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker have repeatedly downplayed Chicago’s crime epidemic, with Pritzker dismissing elevated crime rates as simply “part of being a big city.” In reality, Chicago’s far-left criminal justice policies have created an environment where career criminals face no consequences, and law-abiding citizens like Bethany MaGee pay the price.

This isn’t just about one tragic attack it’s about decades of failed leadership, anti-police rhetoric, and soft-on-crime policies that have emboldened criminals and terrorized ordinary citizens.

The contrast couldn't be clearer: under President Trump’s administration, law and order is back on the agenda. And if Democrat-run cities like Chicago continue to ignore public safety in favor of woke ideology, they will lose federal support.

Bethany MaGee didn’t deserve what happened to her. And unless there is real change, more innocent people will suffer.

Share this if you believe violent criminals should be behind bars not riding the train next to your daughter.

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