Feds Deny NYC ‘Every Dollar’ of Transit Security Funding Due to ‘Sanctuary’ Status

The Department of Homeland Security is denying “every dollar” requested by New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority for transit security, citing the city and state’s status as “sanctuary jurisdictions.” 

According to reporting by Dave Colon and David Meyer in Streetsblog NYC, “DHS's absolute denial of the money the MTA asked for under the Transit Security Grant Program, which pays for security upgrades across the system and not just in New York City, has left law enforcement officials stunned.” 

The agency was the only one denied Transit Security Grant Program funding. “Some $10 million of the grant went to the subway and bus system to pay for police patrols, bag screening, training canine units and cybersecurity, with the rest of the money spent on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North, the MTA said.” 

The denial stands in stark contrast with the administration’s hyperfocus on transit security. “This is the money that Washington provides that goes to us, and even more, to the NYPD for their subway patrols. So to me, it's unthinkable that Washington could be considering cutting transit security grants,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber.