The House Democrats from New York have issued a stark warning that President Donald Trump’s proposed budget cuts could leave the city vulnerable to potential terror attacks, risking its security infrastructure. The lawmakers argue that significant funding reductions to homeland security grants would undermine critical emergency response capabilities and counterterrorism efforts, citing the threat of terrorism as still real post-9/11. The letter, signed by prominent New York Democrats including Ritchie Torres, Yvette Clarke, Gregory Meeks, Dan Goldman, and Jerry Nadler, warns of drastic cuts to vital homeland security programs such as the State Homeland Security Grant Program and the Urban Areas Security Initiative. These cuts, they claim, would severely weaken the city’s capacity to handle both domestic and international threats, emphasizing that New York’s emergency services are crucial to national security. The lawmakers are addressing the top Republican and Democratic leaders on the House Appropriations Committee, which is now working on the 2026 federal budget.
The White House has defended its budget proposal, asserting that the cuts are not an indication of reduced focus on homeland security. A DHS spokesperson said,