A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to cut nearly $34 million in anti-terrorism grants for New York’s MTA. Judge Lewis Kaplan, based in Manhattan, argued that these cuts would lead to a decreased police presence and diminished counter-terrorism efforts in the city.
This anti-terrorism fund was established in response to the September 11 attacks and is intended to assist the families of the 3,000 individuals who lost their lives in front of that courthouse — a grim reminder of the ongoing risk of terrorist activity, as Kaplan noted.
During a 30-minute hearing, Kaplan suggested that the state might demonstrate that the White House’s actions were punitive, potentially in response to the administration’s dissatisfaction with what it termed the “largest deportation program in history.”
On Tuesday, Judge Mary McElroy from Rhode Island, appointed by Trump, also issued a temporary block, affecting $187 million in funding for New York City’s counter-terrorism budget, along with additional cuts impacting 11 other cities that lean Democratic.
In New York, this federal funding supports the patrolling of sensitive locations such as places of worship, bomb squads, and systems for detecting explosives. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tish emphasized the serious consequences of these funding cuts, framing them as a potentially devastating setback for the city’s counter-terrorism and intelligence initiatives.
Tish remarked, “This is not just a political issue; it’s about preventing potential attacks. The difference between cities that stop these threats and those that don’t is significant.”
State leaders, including Governor Kathy Hochul, have urged FEMA to clarify the rationale behind the proposed cuts, which would reduce funding by 87%. Hochul’s office further noted that the federal government plans to withdraw $15 million from the FDNY budget.
Hochul expressed incredulity at the thought of slashing such a substantial amount from police and fire funding, highlighting the dangers posed to New York City. “You can’t just erase this risk,” she asserted during an event attended by other officials criticizing both major parties for the government shutdown that took effect on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the MTA and New York State Attorney General Leticia James are challenging further Homeland Security grant reductions affecting transportation funding. They claimed the cuts were politically motivated, particularly against New York, which has faced considerable risks since 9/11.
It’s still unclear why funding is being redirected to other states. Sources suggest that FEMA must have reassessed the risks of terrorism to justify such a drastic funding shift. “FEMA is focused on the efficient use of resources and collaborating with jurisdictions to explore alternative funding,” a spokesperson commented.
Moreover, it was noted that many states currently hold $1.6 billion that remains unspent in the program, and while New York still has a significant balance, exact figures were not disclosed.
Initially, New York anticipated that it would receive a greater share of these grants, especially after projections from FEMA indicated that funding would be cut by approximately 40% — roughly $87 million — from earlier expectations.
