New York Governor Kathy Hochul Criticizes Trump Administration for Withholding Counterterrorism Funding

<p>Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, New York Governor Kathy Hochul accused President Donald Trump's Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of withholding millions of dollars in counterterrorism funding. </p><p>"The Department of Homeland Security, the agency created in response to 9/11, is withholding 40% of New York State's counterterrorism funding," Hochul stated during a press conference with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday.</p><p>Hochul specified that this 40% amounts to $87 million.</p><p>She accused the president of "defunding the police" and claimed he is "endangering public safety to yet again extract revenge on a blue state." </p><p>"Don't play political games with people's lives. Release the $87 million you owe us," Hochul urged the president.</p><p>She added, "Because if you don't release the counterterrorism funding, you're betraying every family that lost someone on 9/11. You're betraying every police officer and firefighter who puts their lives on the line every single day. And you're betraying every New Yorker who no longer believes that the federal government is there to protect them." </p><p>Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and the DHS on Tuesday for comment.</p><p>Mamdani stated that "the federal government's refusal to provide $87 million in critical public safety and emergency readiness funding that was promised is so unacceptable." </p><p>He emphasized the importance of the funding for fully supporting 12 bomb squads across New York and ensuring that the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) can communicate internally and respond effectively in the event of a catastrophic attack. He also highlighted the need for first responders to have the training, equipment, and capabilities to respond to a radiological threat. "To put it simply, there is no excuse for the federal government to leave the nation's largest city to shoulder this burden alone," he said.</p>