Gillibrand Secures $7.4 Million To Increase MTA Safety And Security

Gillibrand Secures $7.4 Million To Increase MTA Safety And Security

Apr 3, 2026

Senator Gillibrand's New Federal Program Cuts Red Tape, Allowing MTA and Large Urban Transit Authorities Nationwide to Use Federal Funding for Security Personnel and Crisis Intervention for the First Time

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, announced she secured $7,443,750 in federal funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to bolster public safety across New York's transit system.

The funding is part of a groundbreaking $15 million national program authored by Senator Gillibrand in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill that was passed by Congress and signed into law earlier this year. Unlike traditional federal transit funding, this initiative would allow large urban transit agencies to use federal dollars for security-related operating expenses.

"Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe the moment they step onto a subway platform or board a bus," said Senator Gillibrand. "Federal rules tie the hands of our largest transit authorities when it comes to using federal money for operating expenses that would keep riders safe. This new federal program provides $7.4 million for safer, more reliable commutes for New Yorkers, while ensuring that the MTA has the support and tools it needs to increase safety measures on our public transportation system."

"With support from Governor Hochul and the NYPD, we've driven subway crime down to well below pre-COVID levels," said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. "The funding increase secured by Senator Gillibrand will help ensure that progress continues, and we thank her for leading on this important bipartisan issue. Transit safety matters for all New Yorkers."

Existing Federal Transit Administration (FTA) programs for large urban transit systems, like MTA, limit funding to activities like purchasing and installing cameras, lighting, and bus driver shields. Senator Gillibrand's new program changes that. The $7,443,750 allocation can now be used by MTA for:

• Dedicated Security Personnel: Salaries for staff exclusively focused on system-wide security.
• Crisis Intervention: Funding for mental health specialists and Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams (SCOUT).
• Contracted Security: Professional security services to supplement existing law enforcement.

Currently, the MTA relies on state and local budgets to fund the National Guard, State Police, and MTA Police. This federal support will provide the MTA with much-needed flexibility to maintain and expand existing safety initiatives, including unarmed gate guards and EAGLE (Evasion And Graffiti Lawlessness Eradication) Team inspectors tasked with fare enforcement and crime prevention.

By securing half of the total national program funding for New York, Senator Gillibrand is ensuring the MTA remains the gold standard for transit security while directly answering calls for increased public safety in the nation's largest transportation network.

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