Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday, Sept. 30, called out President Donald Trump and US Department of Homeland Security Secretary (DHS) Kristi Noem following $187 million in cuts to critical counterterrorism funding in New York, which directly impacts the safety and security of New Yorkers. The cuts reduced New York’s allocation by 86 % to $30 million.
Hochul warned that these unprecedented cuts will directly impact public safety agencies throughout the state, including a projected $100 million cut to the NYPD, a projected $15 million cut to the FDNY, a projected $13 million cut to Joint Task Force Empire Shield, no projected funding for any of New York State’s 12 certified bomb squads, and millions of dollars in cuts that directly support counties, sheriffs, and police departments.
“A Republican administration literally defunding the police is the height of hypocrisy — and walking away from the fight against terrorism in the number one terrorist target in America is utterly shocking,” Gov. Hochul said. “Any New York House Republican who doesn’t immediately act to get this funding restored is complicit in making their constituents less safe.”
In response, and through a partnership with New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Hochul said New York joined a multi-state coalition of 11 other states in suing to stop the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from illegally depriving states of hundreds of millions of dollars under the federal Homeland Security Grant Program for refusal to support the administration’s immigration agenda.
Additionally, the governor issued a letter to Secretary Noem demanding transparency and accountability on these cuts and their complete restoration.
Hochul said the funding, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 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 is comprised of three separate grants: the SHSP, UASI, and Operation Stonegarden. Under the SHSP and UASI, 80 percent of the funding is allocated to local entities, while 20 percent is reserved for state projects.
Following an extended delay, the governor said DHS released the 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity for HSGP, giving states access to this critical funding.
“However, despite being the nation’s number one terrorist target, New York’s allocation was cut by 40 % ($87 million),” she said. “Then, without notice nor explanation, New York was cut an additional $102.7 million when DHS issued the awards on Sept. 27.”
She said these unprecedented cuts were contained within the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) and Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) portions of the program.
Hochul said the cuts will have “a direct impact on public safety agencies throughout the state,” including: A projected $100 million cut to the NYPD including deep cuts to intelligence analysts and the NYPD’s counterterrorism unit; a projected $15 million cut to the FDNY including deep cuts to interoperable communication and radiological response; and a projected $13 million cut to Joint Task Force Empire Shield, which is the program that funds the New York National Guard presence in transit hubs.
Hochul said there is no projected funding this year for any of New York State’s 12 certified bomb squads.
She said millions of dollars in cuts will directly support equipment purchases, training, exercises, and preparedness efforts for counties, sheriffs, and police departments.
Sen. Charles Schumer said, “Putting the safety of New Yorkers at risk by ripping away vital anti-terror funds is a new low for Donald Trump.
“New York remains a top terror target, and it is reckless and dangerous to slash the vital federal support law enforcement needs to be prepared and stop attacks,” he said. “As threats of international and domestic terror persist and lives hang in the balance, Trump’s FEMA is choosing political games over public safety. These cuts must be immediately reversed. The safety of New Yorkers depends on it.”
Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand said, “The Homeland Security Grant Program is a critical source of funding to keep New Yorkers safe and improve our preparedness, prevention, protection, response, and recovery capabilities across the state.
“I am deeply concerned that the US Department of Homeland Security has cut $189 million in counterterrorism funding for New York State, and I am committed to working with the governor to fight for the restoration of this funding,” she added.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James said, “The federal government’s decision to play politics with critical counterterrorism funds betrays our state’s law enforcement and emergency response teams who work hard every day to keep New Yorkers safe.
“I joined a coalition of my fellow attorneys general to sue DHS to stop these destructive funding cuts, and I thank Gov. Hochul for her commitment to protecting New Yorkers,” she added.
