In response to the London bombings, the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security raised the threat level from Code Yellow (elevated) to Code Orange (high) for mass transit systems, marking new Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoffs debut. Mass transit officials are calling for more transit security funding by Congress.
The bombings could lead Congress to rethink cuts in security funds for mass transit. At ENR press time July 12, the Senate was debating the 2006 funding bill for the Dept. of Homeland Security. Earlier, the Senate Appropriations Committee had agreed to slash the bills mass transit security funds by $50 million to $100 million.