MTA wants $600M from Trump administration to cover old COVID-19 expenses. Good luck.

"MTA officials have spent the last three years waiting for a mountain of COVID-19 relief cash from the feds that may never arrive, leaving a hole in the agency's budget that must be filled by riders and taxpayers. Financial reports show the MTA seeks $600 million over the next two years from FEMA as reimbursement for contracts issued 2020 and 2021."

"MTA Chief Financial Officer Jai Patel wrote in a statement that the agency is "constantly exploring new ways to find efficiencies wherever possible" to cover the budget gap. She said the push to crack down on fare evasion could help, but noted the FEMA application was still pending."

"Patel didn't state the obvious: President Donald Trump's administration is in the midst of a fight with New York over federal funding cuts that could affect the Gateway project to build new train tunnels beneath the Hudson River, the construction of the Second Avenue subway and counterterrorism efforts on the subway, among other transit initiatives."

MTA officials have waited three years for FEMA COVID-19 relief reimbursements that may never arrive, creating a budget hole payable by riders and taxpayers. Financial reports show the MTA seeks $600 million over the next two years from FEMA to reimburse 2020–2021 contracts for supplies, equipment and workers who cleaned subways during the pandemic. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered overnight shutdowns to disinfect trains and remove homeless people. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli highlighted the budget gap. CFO Jai Patel said the agency is "constantly exploring new ways to find efficiencies wherever possible" and noted fare evasion crackdowns could help while the FEMA application remains pending. The application dates to the Biden administration and watchdogs doubt timely federal payment.

Read at Gothamist