WASHINGTON — The Obama administration will announce today it has slashed anti-terror funds for New York City by $53.2 million, despite the attempted Times Square bombing less than two weeks ago that underscored the enormous threat to the city.
The Department of Homeland Security informed New York officials yesterday that grants to the city have been cut 27 percent for mass-transit security and 25 percent for port security.
The mass-transit funds dropped $42 million, from $153 million last year to $111 million this year.
Port-security funds suffered a $11.2 million cut, from $45 million to $33.8 million, officials said.
The timing of the announcement drew howls from New York lawmakers on Capitol Hill, whose recent pleas for increased anti-terror spending in the Big Apple fell on deaf ears.
“For the administration to announce these cuts two weeks after the attempted Times Square bombing shows they just don’t get it and are not doing right by New York City on anti-terrorism funding,” said Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer.
Homeland Security officials say the city already received $100 million in extra transit- and port-security money — $96 million for transit and $4.5 million for the port — from economic-stimulus spending last year. That more than makes up for this year’s cuts, they said.
Rep. Pete King (R-LI), the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, said the cuts were “dangerous and unconscionable.”
“The threat against New York City, the top target of al Qaeda, is increasing, not decreasing,” he said, noting that the city has been the target of at least 11 foiled terror plots since 9/11.