• Federal Transit Administration threatens to withhold $50 million without more aggressive crime reduction plan
• Chicago Police Department daily presence jumps from 77 to 120 officers on trains and buses
• Action follows brutal November attack where woman was set on fire aboard Blue Line train

CHICAGO, IL (TDR) — The Chicago Transit Authority has significantly bolstered security on its public transportation system, increasing police presence by 56% after the Federal Transit Administration threatened to withhold up to $50 million in federal funding without a more comprehensive plan to combat rising crime on trains and buses.

Immediate Security Enhancements

The Chicago Police Department increased its daily presence on the city's transit system from 77 to 120 officers on Friday, while private security K-9 units jumped 10% to 188 personnel. The moves came one day after the FTA delivered a scathing letter to CTA President Nora Leerhsen demanding a more aggressive approach than the plan submitted last Monday.

"CTA, city, and state leaders are failing transit riders and operators. This 'plan' fails to measurably reduce incidents of assaults and improve overall safety on buses and trains."

Federal Transit Administrator Marc Molinaro's harsh criticism accompanied a directive requiring the CTA to submit a new Security Enhancement Plan with specific crime reduction targets for each of the next six months. The Trump administration gave the transit agency 90 days to comply or face the loss of federal funding critical to operations.

MaGee Attack Sparks Federal Action

The federal intervention follows the brutal November 17 attack on 26-year-old Bethany MaGee, who was doused with gasoline and set on fire while riding a Blue Line train in downtown Chicago. MaGee, a business research analyst at Caterpillar, suffered severe burns to approximately 60% of her body and remains in critical condition at Stroger Hospital's burn unit.

The alleged attacker, 50-year-old Lawrence Reed, has been charged with federal terrorism and faces a possible life sentence. Reed's extensive criminal history became a focal point of criticism, with authorities revealing he had been arrested 72 times since turning 18 and was on electronic monitoring with a court-ordered curfew at the time of the attack.

Court documents show Reed violated his curfew multiple times in the days leading up to the assault, including on the day of the attack when an alert went out just after noon. Hours later, he allegedly carried out the premeditated attack after purchasing gasoline at a Chicago gas station approximately 20 minutes before boarding the train.

Political Response and Criticism

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy publicly identified MaGee and sharply criticized Chicago's criminal justice policies, declaring "this would never have happened if this thug had been behind bars." Duffy's statement highlighted Reed's release by a judge despite prosecutors' objections after an August assault on a social worker.

"Chicago's carelessness is putting the American people at risk. No one should ever have to fear for their life on the subway."

The attack drew national attention to Chicago's approach to repeat offenders and its electronic monitoring system. Reed had been convicted of eight felonies and seven misdemeanors over a 32-year period, yet remained free despite what federal authorities called "a clear danger and persistent threat of terror to the community."

Crime Statistics and Context

According to Chicago police data analyzed by CBS News, there have been 933 violent crimes reported at CTA locations in 2025 through December, down 18 from 2024's total of 951. While violent crime has decreased slightly from last year, it remains approximately 65% higher than 2015 levels, though comparable to 2012 figures when 892 violent incidents occurred.

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About 19% of crimes resulted in arrests this year, on par with the 20% average over the past decade. CTA spokesperson Catherine Hosinski noted that the transit system's budget approved in early November included $5 million for increased security initiatives even before the federal ultimatum.

Long-Term Transit Investment

The enhanced security measures coincide with broader transit reforms signed into law by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on Tuesday. The statewide transit overhaul pumps $1.5 billion more into public transportation annually and includes long-range safety and security initiatives aimed at addressing systemic challenges facing Chicago's transit system.

CTA President Leerhsen emphasized that Chicago police officers "are at the core of CTA's multilayered security strategy," adding that "we expect the additional police and K-9 presence on our system to further increase security visibility." The security surge utilizes officers who volunteer for transit duty on their days off, supplementing regular police patrols of CTA property.

Federal Oversight and Accountability

The FTA's special directive criticized the CTA for failing to update its annual agency safety plan and for not implementing adequate measures to address what officials characterized as a years-long pattern of violence. The directive requires the transit agency to set measurable targets and implement its security enhancement plan in full while federal officials monitor progress on resolving each finding.

This marks the second time the Trump administration has threatened federal funding for Chicago's transit system, reflecting broader tensions between federal and local officials over public safety policies in major cities.

Will Chicago's enhanced security measures prove sufficient to satisfy federal demands and restore rider confidence in the transit system's safety?

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