As the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks approaches, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has criticized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for withholding significant counterterrorism funding. At a press conference, she stated that DHS, an agency established in response to the 9/11 attacks, is holding back 40% of New York State’s counterterrorism resources. This percentage equates to $87 million.
Hochul claimed that the administration of President Donald Trump is “defunding the police” and compromising public safety. She urged the release of the funds, arguing that withholding them betrays the memory of those lost on 9/11, as well as the police officers, firefighters, and New Yorkers who rely on federal protection.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and DHS for comments regarding these allegations. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also condemned the federal government’s withholding of the critical $87 million intended for public safety and emergency readiness.
Mamdani emphasized the necessity of these funds for supporting 12 bomb squads in New York and ensuring the effective response of the FDNY during emergencies. He highlighted the training and equipment needed for responding to potential radiological threats, stressing that the federal government should not leave New York City, the nation’s largest metropolis, to manage such challenges unsupported.