The Trump administration has pulled tens of millions of dollars in federal counterterrorism grants that help bankroll the NYPD, city officials warned Wednesday, setting off fresh alarm in a city that has spent two decades hardening itself against attacks.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the cuts include about $36 million in homeland-security grant awards and roughly $6 million from port-security programs, a rollback she described as a direct hit to the department's intelligence and counterterrorism work. She put it bluntly: People are alive today because of these grants.
Tisch said the reductions amount to roughly a 40 percent drop from two years ago and warned that without that money, key equipment, training and intelligence-sharing programs used to detect and disrupt plots could be hollowed out.
As reported by PIX11, Tisch is urging federal officials to put the cash back, arguing the loss will weaken the NYPD's ability to maintain and enhance critical intelligence and counterterrorism operations.
PIX11 noted the department's estimates and said the station was reaching out to the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security for comment. The outlet also published her warning that if the cuts are not reversed, it will be a profound problem two years from now.
Background: Federal grant fights
Federal security money for New York has been a moving target since 2025, when the White House briefly trimmed, then restored, hundreds of millions of dollars in homeland-security aid after backlash from both parties.
The Associated Press reported that in October 2025, President Trump reversed earlier cuts and agreed to restore roughly $187 million following pressure from Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York lawmakers. Hochul has repeatedly argued that these grants pay for subway security, cameras, canine units and other counterterrorism measures, according to remarks and materials her office has released publicly.
What the grants buy
Homeland-security and port-security grants are the quiet backbone of many NYPD counterterror tools, city officials say. The money covers equipment, training and intelligence platforms that are designed to stop attacks before they happen.
According to GovInfo congressional records, those federal dollars support the NYPD's Domain Awareness System, fusion-center work, the Critical Response Command and specialized detection gear and training. Officials warn that losing this funding could slow investigations and limit how effectively the department shares intelligence with federal partners.
Local reaction and next steps
Commissioner Tisch said she wants immediate clarification from the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA and signaled that City Hall will be pressing for answers on how core programs are supposed to survive without Washington's help.
PIX11 reported that Tisch is treating the reductions as an operational threat, not a routine budget trim, and city and state leaders indicated they are prepared to explore political and legal avenues if needed. For now, NYPD officials are reviewing which programs lean most heavily on federal grants and trying to limit any gaps in coverage.
What to watch
All eyes are now on Washington to see whether the administration explains the move and whether New York's leaders escalate their pushback. The Associated Press previously reported that in October 2025, a multistate legal effort helped prompt a temporary restoration of security funds.
If the White House or DHS decides to formally reallocate or reinstate the money this time, it will heavily influence how New York pays for its counterterrorism operations in the year ahead. City officials say they intend to keep pressing their federal counterparts for clarity and relief.
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