ALBANY — The Trump administration has decided to restore $187 million in counterterrorism funding grants to New York after significant pressure from the NYPD and a direct request from Governor Kathy Hochul.
A spokesperson for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed on Friday that the White House would be reversing previous cuts to the funds that support initiatives like bomb squads, security patrols around critical locations such as religious sites, intelligence analytics, and advanced technologies for detecting explosives.
A federal judge had temporarily halted FEMA from distributing these funds earlier in the week, following a lawsuit filed by New York and 11 other Democratic-leaning states, who claimed the funding reductions were politically motivated and illegal.
“We appreciate the state of New York’s partnership and are pleased to announce the full funding of HSGP grants to effectively address and mitigate security risks within the Empire State,” stated a FEMA representative, confirming the reversal initially reported by the New York Times.
“President Trump and [DHS] Secretary [Kristi] Noem are dedicated to allocating essential HSGP resources where they are most needed. FEMA collaborates closely with state and local officials to assess their needs and provide grant funding directly to those who will use it most effectively,” the statement continued.
According to a source familiar with the discussions, Hochul and Trump engaged in extensive conversation on Sunday evening, shortly after the state learned of the extent of the funding reductions, during which Trump assured the governor he would investigate the situation.
“From the moment these alarming cuts were announced, I was clear that New York would not passively accept severe defunding of our law enforcement and counterterrorism efforts,” Hochul declared in a statement on Friday.
“I am pleased that President Trump responded to our concerns and has reversed the funding cuts, ensuring our state possesses the necessary resources to support law enforcement and secure our communities,” the governor added.
The proposed cuts were deemed catastrophic for the NYPD’s counterterrorism initiatives, leaving New Yorkers exposed to potential attacks, as Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch highlighted.
Tisch pointed out that since the September 11, 2001, attacks, New York City has been targeted in over 70 terrorist plots.
“This reversal guarantees that the NYPD will continue to have the vital resources they require to protect the city from terrorist threats,” Tisch mentioned during an unrelated press conference on Friday.
“This outcome recognizes New York’s status as the number one terrorist target globally and underscores the critical role of the NYPD in safeguarding our city from such threats.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) asserted that the funding cuts were an attempt by the Trump administration to unfairly target New York.
“We fought back and succeeded,” Schumer commented on Friday. “He recognized the reality: his public safety reductions were illegal, dangerous, and unjustifiable.”
However, insiders explained that the cuts stemmed from a misstep involving FEMA’s use of a “risk methodology,” leading to funding adjustments without the White House’s awareness.
MTA Chair Janno Lieber noted during an unrelated press conference that an additional $33 million in security-related grants slated for cancellation by the federal government would also be reinstated.
Several Republicans in New York’s congressional delegation, including Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler, expressed their approval of the funding restoration on Friday—many of them having reached out directly to Trump and the White House in recent days.
“I have made it clear from the beginning that these cuts were unacceptable and posed an immediate threat to the safety of New Yorkers,” Lawler stated.
“New York is our country’s primary terror target, and the removal of this funding was never a viable option,” Malliotakis highlighted. “I spoke with President Trump on Wednesday, and within 48 hours, this essential funding was fully restored.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) indicated she had “multiple conversations with numerous individuals” in the White House about restoring the funding, according to a source.
Long Island Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, was also quick to advocate for the fund reinstatement earlier this week.
“We must respond to this heightened threat landscape with unwavering commitment to emergency preparedness and collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners,” Garbarino emphasized.
On Friday, the Homeland Security panel chairman further remarked, “I appreciate President Trump’s timely action and engagement in reversing these drastic funding cuts to essential DHS grants, which support New York City’s counterterrorism initiatives.”
“Even 24 years post-9/11, New York remains our nation’s top terror target, and the threats we encounter continue to evolve,” he added. “I look forward to working with the administration to prioritize the protection of all Americans from those who wish to do us harm.”
– Additional reporting by Amanda Woods
