This article has been updated to include a statement from the Department of Homeland Security.
By Hank Russell
Governor Kathy Hochul called out President Donald Trump and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem following $187 million in cuts to critical counterterrorism funding in New York that the governor said directly impacts the safety and security of New Yorkers, reducing New York’s allocation by 86% to $30 million.
According to Hochul, Long Island could lose more than $7 million in funding. This includes $4.6 million in lost Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) funding. In addition, Nassau is slated to lose over $1.6 million in State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) funding, from $1,820,278 last year to a projected $172,402 this year — a 90.5% decline — while Suffolk stands to receive only 9.5% of what it got last year. In 2024, Suffolk received $1,180,103 in SHSP funding; anticipated funding for 2025 was $111,7770. That is a year-over-year loss of more than $1.6 million.
“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,” 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 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 Noem demanding transparency and accountability on these cuts, as well as their full restoration.
“Following months of delay, New York was pleased to see the Homeland Security Grant Program application finally released in August. However, when it was released, your Department initially cut $87 million from New York’s historic allocation – approximately 40% of New York’s counterterrorism funding,” Hochul wrote to Noem.
According to Hochul, DHS staff told her they “relied upon a formula to calculate these awards and that ‘the Secretary exercised no discretion.’”
“While the Trump administration may talk tough, in practice, you have chosen to defund the counterterrorism efforts of the NYPD, FDNY, New York State Police, and law enforcement agencies from Long Island to Buffalo,” Hochul said. “ I call upon you to be transparent with what appears to be a politically motivated effort to reduce funding for New York.”
Long Island Life & Politics reached out to the DHS for comment. A spokesperson said in reply, “FEMA is focused on aligning its grant programs with the Trump Administration’s priorities to streamline federal resources and reduce the burden on the American taxpayer.”
According to the DHS, New York City has received nearly $3.6 billion in UASI funding since the program’s inception, which is about 30% of all funds awarded and is the most received by any other city in the U.S. However, there are currently $1.6 billion in unspent UASI funds nationwide, including in New York. “Given this, FEMA is prioritizing the responsible use of existing resources and working with jurisdictions to unlock those funds and explore alternative sources like the State Homeland Security Grant Program,” the spokesperson said. “Our goal is to ensure communities remain secure while making the system more effective and accountable, moving away from the fraud, waste and abuse of the past.”