Governor Hochul Stands Up for Public Safety as President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security Defunds Police and Critical Counterterrorism Programs in New York

Department of Homeland Security Cuts Critical Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Funding in New York State by 86% or $187 Million

Funding Directly Supports Intelligence Operations, Transit Hub Security, as well as Equipment Purchases, Training and Preparedness Efforts for Counties, Sheriffs and Police Departments

New York Joins With Multi-State Coalition To Seek Injunction on Dangerous Cuts to Critical Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Funding

Governor Hochul Issues Letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Demanding Transparency and Accountability

Governor Kathy Hochul today called out President Donald Trump and U.S. Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem following $187 million in cuts to critical counterterrorism funding in New York that directly impacts the safety and security of New Yorkers, reducing New York’s allocation by 86 percent to $30 million. These unprecedented cuts will have a direct impact on 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,” Governor 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, New York joined a multi-state coalition of 11 other states in suing to stop the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from illegally depriving states from 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, as well as their full restoration.

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 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, 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 $102.7 million when DHS issued the awards on September 27.

These unprecedented cuts were contained within the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) and Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) portions of the program and 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.
• 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.
• There is no projected funding this year for any of New York State’s 12 certified bomb squads.
• Millions of dollars in cuts that directly support equipment purchases, training, exercises and preparedness efforts for counties, sheriffs and police departments.

UASI 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.

Under the FY 2025 awards, New York is set to receive $22,069,395 in UASI funding, representing an 85.9 percent cut from 2024’s award of $156,131,176. Allocations are determined by New York’s Urban Area Working Group 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.

The funding at risk, based on 2024 funding levels, is as follows:

2024 UASI Local Allocations
Specific Allocation by Jurisdiction:
Nassau County	$2,314,373
Suffolk County	$2,314,373
Westchester County	$2,314,373
City of Yonkers	$2,314,373
Port Authority of NY & NJ	$9,313,368
New York City	$118,451,583

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.

Under the FY 2025 awards, New York is set to receive $5,624,924 in SHSP funding, representing a 90.8 percent cut from 2024’s award of $61,229,940. Funding distributions are formula based and ensure funding goes to every county in New York State.