By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department on Tuesday threatened to withhold transit funding for Chicago trains and buses, and demanded more police protection,
citing an incident in which a 26-year-old woman passenger was attacked and set on fire last month.
The Federal Transit Agency said in letters to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson that they must develop and implement a plan to reduce assaults on transit workers and passengers and address unsafe conditions or face potential loss of federal funding.
The department has sent similar letters over concerns about transit issues in New York and Boston. Chicago, like the other two cities is heavily Democratic. President Donald Trump has regularly threatened funding for large cities run by Democrats, including major infrastructure projects in Chicago and New York.
Chicago Mayor Johnson said at a press conference he will respond to the letter and takes the funding threats seriously.
"We do have to look at what the security apparatus looks like for public transportation," Johnson said at a press conference. "I don't need a letter from the Trump administration to tell me what my priorities are."
Last month, federal prosecutors charged a 50-year man with a federal terrorism offense for allegedly setting a passenger on fire on a Chicago Transit Authority train. Prosecutors said Lawrence Reed of Chicago purchased gasoline at a Chicago gas station and filled it in a hand-held container approximately 20 minutes before allegedly pouring the liquid on victim on the train.
Reed has been detained pending trial and ordered to undergo a mental evaluation.
Pritzker criticized the FTA letter at a press conference.
"This is the federal government threatening state and local government with taking away federal funds for a purpose that they're not allowed to," Pritzker said. "We want the safest possible and most modern transit system in the entire country, and that's what we're prepared to implement."
Illinois passed public transit reform that includes increased funding for public safety programs, including combatting violent crime on public transit, his office said.
The Federal Transit Agency issued a directive ordering Chicago to update its transportation safety plan and maintain a safe operating environment for workers and passengers.
"If CTA does not take immediate action to increase its law enforcement presence, we will withhold federal funds," " said FTA Administrator Marc Molinaro.
(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese and David Gregorio)
