NEW YORK — Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Tuesday that the Trump administration is withholding tens of millions dollars in counterterrorism funding — a move they say threatens New Yorkers ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Speaking at a news conference surrounded by state law enforcement officials, Hochul (D) said President Donald Trump’s reluctance to disburse the money amounted to “defunding the police” and firefighters who “run into the fire while the rest of us are running out.”
“This is an example of Donald Trump endangering public safety to yet again extract revenge on a blue state,” said Hochul, referring to the state’s Democratic leanings. “He should work with me to keep people safe and not make them more vulnerable to terrorist attacks.”
In all, Hochul said the Department of Homeland Security and White House have not disbursed $87 million promised to New York for counterterrorism and emergency response operations — crucial components of national security since the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.
The White House referred questions to DHS. In a statement, DHS said Hochul is “manufacturing a funding crisis” and claimed the state has not spent $300 million in federal homeland security grants it has already been awarded.
“Instead of falsely accusing President Trump of defunding law enforcement, Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani should answer a much simpler question: Why is New York and NYC demanding even more taxpayer money,” the statement added.
The dispute over the funding dates to last year, when the White House initially cut about $187 million in federal aid to New York. The move was part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to curtail spending on Democratic states ahead of a government shutdown.
Hochul personally called Trump last year to plead that the money be restored. A few days later, on Oct. 3, Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he would release it.
“I am pleased to advise that I reversed the cuts made to Homeland Security and Counterterrorism for New York City and State,” Trump wrote. “It was my Honor to do so. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
But Hochul said New York so far has only received $100 million of that funding. Hochul, who is running for reelection this fall against a Trump-backed opponent, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R), said the absence of the full payout is “yet another broken promise.”
“If you don’t release the counterterrorism funding, you are betraying every family that lost someone on 9/11,” said Hochul, referring to the 2,977 people killed in the attacks.
Mamdani (D) did not mention Trump by name but said New York City has made “enormous strides” in tracking and responding to threats, but the absence of continued federal support “makes that work harder.”
The funds would ensure that the city can maintain 12 bomb disposal units, have radios so firefighters can communicate during a crisis and enhance emergency responses in the event of a radiological attack, he said.
“At the very moment we should be strengthening the systems that protect New Yorkers, the federal government is walking away from that responsibility,” Mamdani said. “There is no excuse for the federal government to leave the nation’s largest city to shoulder this burden alone.”
Separate from the counterterrorism funding, a DHS official said New York is slated to receive more than $200 million in homeland security grants this year, including reimbursements for security costs associated with World Cup matches and other events this summer.
Hochul’s office did not immediately respond to a question about whether the state has spent the $300 million in federal funds that DHS claimed it has not.
New York leaders and the Trump administration have also been feuding over federal immigration policy.
Hochul has worked to swiftly implement a new state law that bans law enforcement agencies throughout the state from entering into cooperation agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin have accused the state and city of embracing sanctuary policies that they say threaten public safety.
On Tuesday, Mullin traveled to New York City to announce that ICE has arrested 2,197 undocumented immigrants in the region over the past month, including some convicted of violent crimes.
ICE has named the actions “Operation Rotten Apple.”
“The Trump administration is committed to protecting the American people in every city and every state, and we won’t let sanctuary politicians stand in our way,” Mullin said. “If you’re a state or local politician, your best bet is to cooperate with us so we can all make America safe again.”
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