Trump Admin Issues Ultimatum to Chicago After Brutal Train Attack: “This Was Preventable”
The Trump administration is putting Chicago on notice following a horrific attack that left a young woman fighting for her life — and federal officials say it didn’t have to happen.
Bethany MaGee, 26, was set on fire on a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train last month in what authorities are calling a senseless, preventable act of violence. The man charged in the attack, 50-year-old Lawrence Reed, has a rap sheet that includes over 70 prior arrests and 15 convictions.
Now, in response to the violent crime surge, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator Marc Molinaro has issued a stark warning: Chicago could lose federal transit funding if safety conditions don’t immediately improve.
“A Deliberate Failure to Act”
In letters sent Monday to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Molinaro said both city and state leaders have failed in their responsibility to protect the public.
“Creating a safe, reliable transit system is the responsibility of leaders at every level,” Molinaro wrote. “CTA, the City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois have failed to meet this obligation.”
He demanded that the CTA dramatically increase its law enforcement presence and update its safety plan to address the rising violence.
“If CTA does not promptly increase its law enforcement presence, FTA will act, including by withholding federal funds,” Molinaro warned.
A National Outlier for Transit Crime
Molinaro’s letter includes eye-popping statistics: violent crime on Chicago’s public transportation system is four times higher than the national average, and assaults on passengers have skyrocketed 150% in the last five years.
“The horrific attack on Bethany MaGee onboard a CTA train has shaken not only Chicago but also every community that depends on public transportation,” Molinaro said. “I will not accept the brutal assault of an innocent 26-year-old woman as an inevitable cost of providing public transportation.”
He directly blamed lax enforcement and political inaction for enabling the chaos, stating the attack on MaGee was entirely avoidable.
“Transit leaders and elected officials who fail to enforce basic laws and permit disorder to erode the integrity of their systems are making deliberate choices that endanger riders,” he said.
Pressure Mounts on Democrat Leaders
The ultimatum comes as President Trump continues to hammer so-called “blue cities” for lawlessness and failed leadership, particularly when it comes to crime and public safety.
Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson have repeatedly downplayed Chicago’s rising crime rates, often brushing off concerns as overblown or a function of city life. But critics say that attitude is exactly what’s fueling the violence — and now federal authorities are stepping in.
The Trump administration’s crackdown follows broader efforts to tie federal funding to local performance on crime, education, and immigration enforcement.
“The attack on Ms. MaGee was preventable,” Molinaro reiterated. “Transit officials must act now — or be held accountable.”
Chicago has not yet responded publicly to the FTA’s warning.