President Donald Trump has restored nearly $187 million in federal homeland security funding for New York after widespread backlash from state leaders who warned the cuts would cripple counterterrorism operations.
Trump confirmed the reversal Friday in a Truth Social post, writing, “I am pleased to advise that I reversed the cuts made to Homeland Security and Counterterrorism for New York City and State. It was my Honor to do so. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The decision followed an outcry led by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who earlier in the week sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem condemning the reductions. Hochul said the cuts represented 86% of the state’s federal homeland security allocation and would have severely affected the New York City Police Department, Fire Department, state police and other agencies.
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According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the plan would have slashed the department’s federal counterterrorism support from $90 million to about $10 million. She described the move as “a devastating blow,” calling New York “the No. 1 terrorist target in the world.”
Hochul welcomed Trump’s reversal, crediting coordinated pressure from New York officials. “From the moment these devastating cuts were announced, I made it clear that New York would not stand by while our law enforcement and counterterrorism operations were defunded,” she said. “I’m glad President Trump heard our call and reversed course, ensuring our state has the resources necessary to support law enforcement and keep our families safe.”
Republicans also pressed Trump to undo the reductions. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, the only Republican representing New York City, said she personally raised the issue with him and called the cuts a “terrible idea.” Rep. Mike Lawler of the Hudson Valley echoed those concerns, saying the reductions were “unacceptable and posed a direct threat to the safety of New Yorkers.”
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Despite the restoration, federal emergency preparedness funding has been surrounded by uncertainty this year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which administers the grants, released allocation notices much later than usual, and in some cases states received amounts far lower than anticipated. Homeland security grants for New York and Illinois dropped by 79% and 69%, while several U.S. territories saw unexpected increases.
New restrictions have added to the confusion, states now have only one year to spend the money instead of three, and some programs require population counts that exclude individuals removed under immigration laws. A FEMA announcement also stated that federal funds could no longer be used for “luxury hotels for illegal immigrants, climate change pet projects, or radical organizations with unseemly ties.”
The controversy prompted 11 states and the District of Columbia to file suit against the Trump administration earlier this week. A federal judge in Rhode Island has since issued a temporary restraining order requiring the administration to distribute the full grants, AP reported.
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