NEW YORK (AP) — Sen. Charles Schumer is slamming a White House proposal that would reduce funding for counterterrorism programs across the country by nearly $300 million.
The New York Democrat is pushing President Barack Obama to reconsider the cuts.
Schumer notes that the cuts to the Urban Area Security Initiative were included in the proposed 2017 budget released last week by the White House. The initiative helps fund programs in cities across the U.S. to prevent extremist attacks, or respond to and recover from them. The proposed budget would cut the funding from $600 million to $330 million.
“These proposed cuts are ill-advised and ill-timed and they must be reversed. End of story,” Schumer said in a statement to The Associated Press. “In light of recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, and the vow by our extremist enemies to launch more attacks on our shores, it makes no sense to propose cuts to vital terror-prevention programs like UASI.”
Schumer, who decried the cuts at a news conference on Sunday, said the program is necessary to adequately fund counterterrorism programs in high-density urban areas like New York City.
“New York City remains terror target number one and the NYPD relies on these programs to keep us safe,” he said.
In New York, a portion of the funds are used for the fire department’s response training and the NYPD’s counterterrorism training programs and the active shooter training course. The money also helps pay for teams that patrol at local airports, transit hubs and waterways. Elsewhere in the New York area, the funds cover the cost of other training exercises, including multi-jurisdictional response drills.
The White House released a statement saying the proposed budget provides “robust funding to support a sustainable and effective approach for combating terrorism.”
“In addition, the budget provides $100 million for a new Regional Preparedness Grants Competition and $39M for grants to help States prepare for and respond to complex coordinated terrorist attacks, both of which offer New York City additional opportunities to secure funding for counterterrorism efforts,” the White House said.
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Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Rancho Mirage, California contributed to this report.
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Follow Michael Balsamo on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MikeBalsamo1. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/journalist/michael-balsamo .
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Interestingly enough, I haven’t yet found any statement from Schumer about congress refusing to hear budget testimony from the administration.
The President’s budget will not even get a hearing in Congress.
Both budget committees have already said this, so why is Schumer even mentioning it ?
What is he agenda ?
Both budget committees have already said this, so why is Schumer even mentioning it ?
What is he agenda ?
it’s in the article … because a significant chunk (if not most) of those funds would end up in ny, esp in nypd anti-terrorism unit. and they do like all the toys they’ve been able to accumulate over these past several years.
What specific programs has Obama’s budget targeted for reduced funding or defunding? What or whom is Schumer trying to protect? He’d probably say “the American people” – but there are others who see $$$ first, and security second. Any speculation about why he is out there making this statement now publicly, instead of wrangling behind the scenes? What is the political motive?
… I can’t believe this freaking prick is next in line for Democratic Senate leader after Reid. He is such an asshole.
If there’s anyone on the Dem side who symbolizes what’s wrong with the “Establishment” nowadays it’s Schumer. I swear if someone ever actually took a look, they’d find about a few dozen corporate logos tatooed or branded on his ass. Maybe one day I’ll be proven wrong, but to me he’s basically a rent boy for anyone with enough money. He’s my current runner up for the “Joe Lieberman Wannabe” award.