Counterterrorism Funding Revived for New York
ALBANY — The Trump administration is reinstating a $187 million counterterrorism grant for New York following pressure from the NYPD and a direct request from Governor Kathy Hochul.
A representative from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed that the administration is reversing funding cuts that were intended to support security measures for sensitive locations, such as bomb squads, places of worship, intelligence analysts, and radiation detectors.
This funding decision comes after a judge temporarily halted FEMA from disbursing the funds earlier this week. New York and a group of residents had filed a lawsuit against the agency, claiming the cuts were politically motivated.
“We are thankful for the partnership with New York State. Today, we are announcing the full funding of HSGP grants to effectively counter and combat security threats within the state,” a FEMA representative stated, confirming the reported funding reversal.
“President Trump and Secretary Noem are dedicated to ensuring that essential HSGP resources are provided. FEMA is collaborating closely with state and local partners to distribute grants in a way that meets their needs effectively,” the statement continued.
Governor Hochul and President Trump discussed the funding cuts in detail on Sunday evening, shortly after New York learned about the extent of the reductions. The president assured Hochul that he would look into the situation, according to a source familiar with their conversation.
The NYPD’s counterterrorism efforts have been significantly affected by these funding cuts, leaving them more vulnerable, as noted by Police Chief Jessica Tish.
“To bluntly put it, this is the difference between cities that prevent the next attack and those that become exposed to it. Funding for counterterrorism should not be a political matter. It shouldn’t fluctuate based on party victories,” Tish commented earlier this week.
Since the September 11 attacks in 2001, New York City has successfully thwarted over 70 terrorist plots.
It remains uncertain if this funding reversal will also include the approximately $34 million cut from counter-terrorism grants intended for the MTA, as the judge’s decision is still pending.
