Judge blocks Trump cuts to NYC transit counterterrorism funds
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to cut approximately $34 million in federal counterterrorism funding allocated to New York City’s transit system. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan referenced the ongoing security threats faced by New York, including ancient incidents like the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the 9/11 attacks, emphasizing the critical nature of this funding. The judge suggested that the administration’s move to divert funds was likely motivated by political retaliation against new York for not cooperating with its immigration policies.the state of New York had sued the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA, arguing that the Rail and Transit Security Grant Program was established specifically to protect transit systems from terrorism threats. Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the funding cuts as political retribution,and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch warned that reducing these resources amid rising global threats substantially endangers the city’s safety.the judge issued a temporary restraining order to maintain funding until mid-October while considering a permanent injunction.
Judge blocks Trump cuts to NYC transit counterterrorism funds
A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from diverting around $34 million in funding intended to protect New York’s transit system from terrorism.
In the ruling, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan cited the 9/11 terrorist attacks and security threats the city faces. He noted that the state will “quite likely” succeed in proving the money would be improperly diverted because the Trump administration sought to punish the state for not cooperating with its immigration agenda.
“Obviously, New York is no stranger to risks of terrorist attacks and it’s not just 9/11 that tells us that,” the judge said, noting the 1993 World Trade Center bombing as well.
The judge also noted that Khalid Sheik Mohammed, said to be one of the architects of the Sept. 11 attacks, was set to be tried in New York until “enough pressure from Congress and the city’s administration” got the decision overturned.
“And he’s still in Guantanamo years later with no end to a trial in sight. Why did that happen? It happened because of an acute fear of terrorism attacks,” Kaplan said.
The temporary restraining order will remain until Oct. 15 while the judge considers New York’s request for a permanent injunction to block the cuts.
The state sued the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday, arguing that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks led to the creation of the Rail and Transit Security Grant Program, which protects transit systems from chemical, biological, radiological, and explosives threats.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) said the move was a “political payback and an attack on New York and its residents.”
New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said this week that it would be a “profound mistake” for the Trump administration to halt the funding.
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“Cutting these resources now, in a time of global conflict and surging threats, puts lives at risk and will make our city meaningfully less safe,” she said. “To be blunt, this is the difference between a city that prevents the next attack and a city left exposed to it.”
The Trump administration additionally reduced the city police’s federal counterterrorism funding from $90 million to about $10 million, which Tisch characterized as “profoundly bad news.”
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