US threatens to withhold Chicago transit funding after attack on passenger

WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department on Tuesday threatened to withhold transit funding for Chicago trains and buses after an attack on a 26-year-old passenger on a Chicago train.

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.