Trump Administration Recklessly Cut New York’s Counterterrorism Funding by $187 Million Last Year
President Trump Promised to Fully Restore New York’s Funding After Governor Hochul’s Relentless Advocacy and Direct Outreach
But the Trump Administration Restored Only $100 Million – Leaving New York Without $87 Million in Vital Counterterrorism Funding
Funding Directly Supports Intelligence Operations, Transit Hub Security, as well as Equipment Purchases, Training and Preparedness Efforts for Counties, Sheriffs and Police Departments
Hochul: “Here’s my message to the president: Don’t undermine our public safety efforts. Don’t defund the police who thwart terror attacks. Don’t play political games with people’s lives. Release the $87 million you owe us, because if you don’t release the counterterrorism funding, you’re betraying every family that lost someone on 9/11. You’re betraying every police officer and firefighter who puts their lives on the line every single day. And you’re betraying every New Yorker who no longer believes that the federal government is there to protect them.”
Notably, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman who is running to topple Kathy Hochul to become New York’s governor, has said nothing, done nothing to reclaim these funds, yet is running on “law and order”, “public safety”. Similarly, on Trump’s tariff war and alienation with Canada, a major trading partner with New York State, he has not dared to stand up to Trump. On Trump’s cancellation of wind power projects that would lower the cost of utilities for New Yorkers and increase energy independence which he so likes to attack, he dares not oppose Trump on behalf of New Yorkers. And he called
Hochul’s effort to protect New Yorkers from ICE malfeasance, “the saddest day of my life.” Notably, Trump and Blakeman who love to campaign under a “Back the Blue” banner (and routinely use police as a backdrop for their photo ops) and accuse Democrats of calling for “defunding the police” are responsible for DEFUNDING THE POLICE and pardoning the January 6 rioters who assaulted police.
Governor Hochul’s call to recover the $87 million I n federal counterterrorism funds still owed New York State is significant in light of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on New York City, and the likelihood of NYC being a Number One terror target during the heightened hostilities Trump has engendered with Iran, among others, while alienating allies. – Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com
Governor Kathy Hochul called on President Trump and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin to fully fund New York’s counterterrorism efforts by releasing the $87 million in federal funds still owed to New York. Last year, the Trump Administration cut critical counterterrorism and homeland security funding in New York State by 86 percent, or $187 million. Governor Hochul fought this reckless cut by appealing directly to President Trump, who promised to fully restore New York State’s funding. After nearly one year of waiting, New York State is still owed $87 million to support intelligence operations, transit hub security, and equipment, training, and preparedness for sheriffs and police departments across the state.
“By holding this funding hostage, the Trump Administration is defunding the police,” Governor Hochul said. “New York State continues to be the nation’s number one terrorist target – and if President Trump and Secretary Mullin really care about public safety, they should stop playing games and fully fund our vital counterterrorism efforts.”
The funding, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through its Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP), supports local law enforcement and regional homeland security preparedness efforts, including intelligence operations, mass gathering security, planning, equipment purchases, and training critical to sustaining and improving community prevention, protection, response and recovery capabilities. HSGP was created in 2003 in the aftermath of 9/11 and comprises three separate grants –– the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) and Operation Stonegarden. Under SHSP and UASI, 80 percent of the funding is allocated to local entities while 20 percent is reserved for state projects. New York State received cuts to both its SHSP and UASI allocations.
Following an extended delay in 2025, DHS released the 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity for HSGP, giving states the ability to access this critical funding. However, despite being the nation’s number one terrorist target, New York’s allocation was cut by 40 percent ($87 million). Then, without notice nor explanation, New York was cut an additional $100 million when DHS issued the awards on September 27, 2025. After dogged advocacy by Governor Hochul, President Trump committed to reversing these misguided cuts in October of 2025, when he stated on Truth Social that he was “…pleased to advise that [he] reversed the cuts made to Homeland Security and Counterterrorism for New York City and State. It was [his] Honor to do so. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Almost one year later, New York State has only received $100 million of the amount owed following an order by a federal judge, with nearly $87 million outstanding.
Specifically, access to the remaining $87 million would ensure full funding of:
- The NYPD’s intelligence analysts and counterterrorism unit;
- The FDNY’s interoperable communication and radiological response capabilities;
- Joint Task Force Empire Shield which is responsible for the New York National Guard presence in transit hubs.
- New York State’s 12 certified bomb squads; and
- Equipment purchases, training, exercises and preparedness efforts for counties, sheriffs and local police departments.
“Ten days away from the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor, the horrors are still vivid for the families who lost loved ones that morning, and for the families who are still losing loved ones due to 9/11 illnesses all these years later, and for the courageous first responders still haunted by the images and the aftermath of that day,” Governor Hochul stated. “And yet today, after a quarter century of successfully thwarting other attacks on our homeland, our brave police and firefighters learn that the Trump administration is abandoning them. That’s right. Donald Trump withholding funding intended to keep New Yorkers safe from another terrorism attack, and that’s exactly why we’re standing here together today, to stand up and fight back against the unprecedented, reckless and dangerous decisions being made in Washington.
“The Department of Homeland Security, the agency created in response to 9/11, is withholding 40 percent of New York State’s counterterrorism funding. Yes, 40 percent. That’s from New York State, the number one terror target in the nation, a place where, just recently, a terror plot against our state capital was uncovered. That 40 percent adds up to $87 million. That’s $87 million they owe us.
“Let me translate that in real simple terms: Donald Trump is defunding the police. Defunding the NYPD intelligence analysts who foil the attacks. Defunding the brave members of FDNY who run into the fire while the rest of us are running out. Defunding the National Guard, the units who protect the major transit hubs. Defunding bomb squads. Defunding police departments and sheriff’s offices from Long Island to Westchester to Buffalo.
“In New York City alone, over the last three years, the teams used these funds that have been responsible for 145 major arrests, disruptions and leads across 10 states. You know what that translates into? Lives saved, tragedies averted, because of those highly specialized units. And now, Donald Trump is refusing to release the funds that those teams so desperately need. In so doing, Donald Trump broke a promise that he made last October, when I asked him — after there were the initial cuts of $187 million cut from our Homeland Security grant, I called him up, asked him if he would restore it — he said he’d look into it, but in his usual way of communicating, he posted on Truth Social, “It was an honor to reverse those cuts.”
“Yet today, another broken promise, a year later, we’re still waiting for the money. Mr. “Make America Safe” still talks about big game on law enforcement, talks big about protecting our law enforcement, our police. Instead of breaking up terror plots, he’s breaking up innocent families, detaining children. He even sent DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to New York City today, to hold a press conference at this very moment. Perhaps to spare the Trump administration the embarrassment of literally defunding the police, he should walk right over here now, with a check for $87 million that our first responders and our counterterrorism officials are owed. Don’t see him. Another example of Donald Trump endangering public safety to yet again extract revenge on a blue state. It’s wrong, and he should work with me to keep people safe, not make them more vulnerable to terrorism attacks and crimes.
“And I’ll work with anyone — Democrat, Republican — to get the job done. I’ve made record investments in law enforcement and public safety — nearly $4 billion in the last five years. I’ve worked across the aisle to strengthen our laws and keep violent offenders across the streets, and it’s paying off with crime hitting all-time lows across the state. We’ve come too far to let this reckless federal government jeopardize all of our progress and the vital work that is still ahead.
“So here’s my message to the president: Don’t undermine our public safety efforts. Don’t defund the police who thwart terror attacks. Don’t play political games with people’s lives. Release the $87 million you owe us, because if you don’t release the counterterrorism funding, you’re betraying every family that lost someone on 9/11. You’re betraying every police officer and firefighter who puts their lives on the line every single day. And you’re betraying every New Yorker who no longer believes that the federal government is there to protect them.
“In 10 days, we’ll see and say the words “never forget,” 25 years after 9/11. Those words still mean something to us, still demand something of us. They demand that we remember those who we lost, honor the sacrifices that were made, and do everything in our power to ensure that it never, ever happens again,” Governor Hochul stated during a press conference.
New York State continues to be the nation’s number one terrorist target and just underwent a historic summer of mass gathering events with the FIFA World Cup, International Naval Review, America 250 celebrations, and New York Knicks’ championship run and parade. This required an unprecedented safety and security preparedness effort coordinated with State and City officials to ensure the safety and security of all New Yorkers and visitors. If the federal government refuses to fully fund the State’s counterterrorism efforts, it puts future planning, coordination and security at risk.
UASI Funding Cut
In New York, UASI funding is reserved for jurisdictions within the New York City metropolitan areas to sustain and enhance critical anti-terrorism and intelligence sharing programs. Allocations are determined by New York’s Urban Area Working Group (UAWG) which is comprised of New York City, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester County, the City of Yonkers and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Estimated UASI Cuts by UAWG Member:
| City of Yonkers | -$947,959 |
| Nassau County | -$947,959 |
| NYC | -$55,671,592 |
| Port Authority | -$3,814,724 |
| Suffolk County | -$947,959 |
| Westchester County | -$947,959 |
| Total | -$63,278,152 |
SHSP Cut
In New York, SHSP funding is directed to every county and the City of New York to support planning, equipment purchases, training, and other homeland security initiatives. Funding distributions are formula based and ensure funding goes to every county in New York State.
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Terry O’Leary stated, “Governor Hochul has made record investments in the State’s emergency preparedness and counterterrorism efforts, but New York State cannot do this alone. Having a commitment from our federal partners to fight terrorism is critical when it comes to the State’s preparedness capabilities, and any further delay in fully funding these efforts is putting the safety and security of all New Yorkers at risk.”
“Counterterrorism funding is a critical part of that work, supporting the intelligence, training, planning, and coordination that strengthens our emergency preparedness across the city. New York City has shown time and again that we are ready to meet the moment, and we need our federal partners to uphold their commitment and provide the resources necessary to keep New Yorkers safe,” New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell said,
