If the Trump administration follows through on its threats, New York City could lose critical federal funding for the transit system, the health department and the Police Department, James E. Johnson, the city’s corporation counsel, said on Thursday. Earlier this month, the Federal Transit Administration effectively barred the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the city’s subway and buses, from applying for federal funding to cover some coronavirus-related expenses. A notice on Oct. 8 said the agency would consider applications pursuant to Mr. Trump’s directive on “anarchist jurisdictions.”The transit agency has a staggering budget hole after the pandemic wiped out its operating revenues. The cities began to prepare their lawsuit after seeing the federal notice regarding transit funding, Mr. Johnson said. The Justice Department and the White House declined requests for comment on the lawsuit.

Source: New York Times October 22, 2020 18:38 UTC