Trump Administration Targets Free Bus Programs, Sparks Debate Over Funding and Safety
The Trump administration is considering a crackdown on fare-free bus programs in cities that receive federal transit funding, a move that could directly impact New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to eliminate bus fares. A draft proposal from the Department of Transportation, obtained by Politico, is being circulated for inclusion in the next surface transportation bill, requiring Congressional approval.
The proposed policy would target transit agencies in areas with populations exceeding 200,000 and bus fleets of more than 100 vehicles. Cities currently offering free rides, such as parts of the Kansas City metro area, Richmond, Virginia, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, could be affected. However, Kansas City is reportedly planning to reinstate fares in the coming months.
In New York City, Mayor Mamdani campaigned on a promise to make all city buses free, but Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) CEO Janno Lieber dismissed the pledge as a “campaign bumper sticker” during a legislative budget hearing in Albany on Tuesday, .
Under the DOT’s draft language, agencies receiving Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds would be required to charge a fare. Cities refusing to comply could face the withholding of federal funding. The proposal states that this policy “would help ensure the largest federally supported systems are safer and more adequately funded by users.”
The draft includes exceptions for certain groups, such as seniors, people with disabilities, children, students, and veterans. It also provides for special circumstances, like major events such as the World Cup or Olympics. This exception is notable given the FIFA 2026 World Cup is scheduled to be held across multiple U.S. Markets with large transit systems, including Kansas City, Philadelphia, and the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region.
However, Politico noted that the surface transportation bill is not expected to be finalized before the World Cup. The 2028 Summer Olympics are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles.
The DOT’s proposal raises concerns about both finances and public safety, warning that fare-free policies “can result in unsustainable finances for the agency and potential safety issues.” Some systems that have eliminated fares have reportedly experienced an increase in disruptive passengers.
Supporters of free buses argue that removing fares can increase ridership and improve access to jobs and essential services for working families. Joel Mendez, an assistant professor of transportation planning at the University of Kansas, who has studied Kansas City’s fare-free experiment, told Politico that the evidence suggests broader mobility gains. “If more people are using the bus…we could be significantly improving their mobility and enhancing access to services and resources…that can have a positive impact on their quality of life,” Mendez said.
On Capitol Hill, Democrats have criticized the Trump administration’s plan. Representative Rick Larsen, D-Wash., ranking member on the House Transportation Committee, stated, “This proposal makes no sense. Transit agencies are pretty good at making their own decisions about how to operate to meet local needs.” He added, “The FTA should be in a position to support them, not undermine them.”
The Trump administration has previously threatened to withhold federal funding from New York City for highway projects if the MTA did not halt congestion pricing, according to a letter from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. On , Duffy outlined a plan to hold up money and regulatory approvals for federally funded road projects if the MTA continued to collect congestion pricing tolls.
the Trump administration threatened to cut funding from the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) if it didn’t adopt security measures, shifting $3.3 million from security funds in the 2025 budget to pilot programs aimed at improving safety, .
The administration also previously threatened to withhold funding to force the addition of bus lanes along 34th Street in Manhattan, .