Hochul Accuses Trump of 'Defunding the Police' as Counterterrorism Funding Battle Intensifies

Speaking at a joint press conference in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, Hochul delivered a stark message: "Let me translate that in real simple terms: Donald Trump is defunding the police" . Standing alongside law enforcement leaders and the mayor, the governor demanded that the administration release the outstanding funds, warning that the shortfall threatens critical security operations just ten days before the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks .

A Broken Promise from Truth Social

The funding dispute dates back to September 2025, when the Trump administration slashed New York's homeland security grant allocation by 86 percent—a cut of $187 million . Following intense pressure from state officials, President Trump took to Truth Social on October 3, 2025, announcing: "I am pleased to advise that I reversed the cuts made to Homeland Security and Counterterrorism for New York City and State. It was my Honor to do so" .

However, according to state officials, the restoration was never fully realized. New York recovered approximately $100 million through litigation, leaving a remaining balance of $87 million that has yet to materialize . Hochul emphasized that New York remains the nation's number one terrorist target and relies on these funds for essential operations .

What the Funding Supports

The $87 million supports a wide range of counterterrorism and emergency preparedness efforts across the state, including :

• NYPD intelligence analysts and counterterrorism unit operations

New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell warned that over 110 staff members in her agency are funded through related grants, and the shortfall could impact emergency alert systems and disaster response capabilities .

"The Department of Homeland Security, the agency created in response to 9/11, is withholding 40% of New York State's counterterrorism funding," Hochul said . "That 40% adds up to $87 million" .

Hochul's Message to Trump

"Here's my message to the president: Don't undermine our public safety efforts. Don't defund the police who thwart terror attacks. Don't play political games with people's lives," Hochul declared .

She framed the funding issue as a betrayal of 9/11 families and first responders. "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," she said .

Mayor Mamdani echoed these concerns, specifically warning about impacts on bomb squad capacity. "This is a cut that will then impact our ability to have bomb squads here in New York City at the level that we have today," he said .

Administration Pushback

The Trump administration has dismissed the accusations, pointing to what it calls unspent federal funds already allocated to New York. A FEMA spokesperson stated: "Governor Hochul is manufacturing a funding crisis despite New York sitting on more than $300 million in UNSPENT federal homeland security funding" .

The spokesperson added that New York is slated to receive an additional $200 million in grant funding later this month related to hosting the FIFA World Cup. "Instead of falsely accusing President Trump of defunding law enforcement, Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani should answer a much simpler question: why is New York and NYC demanding even more taxpayer money when it has failed to spend hundreds of millions of dollars already provided to protect its communities?" .

Political Subtext

The funding clash comes amid heightened tensions between New York and Washington, with both sides engaging in a war of words ahead of the November midterm elections. Hochul's accusation—using the politically charged phrase "defund the police"—represents a deliberate inversion of a slogan that has dogged Democrats since 2020 . Notably, she was joined by Mayor Mamdani, who had previously supported "defund the police" rhetoric before moderating his stance during his mayoral campaign .

What's Next

Hochul indicated that her administration continues to communicate with the Department of Homeland Security behind the scenes, but acknowledged she has not spoken directly with Trump since their initial conversation about the cuts . She delivered her plea publicly through television cameras—a clear attempt to pressure the president as the anniversary of 9/11 approaches .

As the standoff continues, New York officials warn that the security of the state's 20 million residents hangs in the balance. "After a quarter century of successfully thwarting other attacks on our homeland, our brave police and firefighters learn that the Trump administration is abandoning them," Hochul said . "Shame on you for withholding this money, not delivering it to me right now, 10 days before we honor those lives that were lost on 9/11" .