The Trump administration will restore $187 million in New York law enforcement and counterterrorism funds after the Department of Homeland Security, without Trump’s approval, initially proposed cutting the money, a move that would have crippled the state’s intelligence operations.
The announcement came after a bipartisan push from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, and several Republican members of the state’s House of Representatives.
“FEMA works closely with our state and local partners to understand their needs and deliver grant funding directly into the hands of those who will utilize those funds most effectively,” a statement from Homeland Security officials said Friday, the New York Times reported. “We are grateful for the partnership of the State of New York, and today are announcing full funding of H.S.G.P. grants to effectively counter and combat security threats within the Empire State.”
The Times reported President Trump learned of the cuts during a Sunday night call with Gov. Hochul. Trump and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought signaled they plan to trim spending during the shutdown. On Wednesday, the first day of the shutdown triggered by Senate Democrats’ rejection of a GOP resolution, Hochul issued a statement.
“Donald Trump has been clear: he is intent on using his reckless government shutdown to hurt the American people,” Hochul’s statement read. “In just 24 hours, his administration has defunded New York’s law enforcement and counterterrorism efforts and halted $18 billion in funding from critical infrastructure projects in New York City. This is political payback and an attack on New York and its residents, and it puts every family across our state in harm’s way.”
Hochul sent a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem accusing her of making the U.S. “more vulnerable to terrorist attacks,” the Times reported. The DHS defended the cuts, stating on Thursday that they were intended to align with the Trump administration’s priorities, streamline resources, and ease taxpayer burdens.
