Homeland Security Slashes NYC Anti-Terror Funding, White House Defends Move

Less than two weeks after a failed bombing attempt in Times Square, the Obama administration has slashed $53.2 million from New York City's anti-terror budget.

The Department of Homeland Security informed city officials Wednesday that the metropolitan area will only receive $111 million in transit security -- 27%, or $42 million, less than last year's $153 million.

Port security funds also took a 25% hit.

In response to the news, Obama was criticized by both sides of the aisle yesterday.

Senator Chuck Schumer decried the cuts, saying that it shows that the administration "don't get it and are not doing right by New York City," while Rep. Steve King, the top Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, called the move "dangerous and unconscionable."

But the administration pointed out that New York City had already received millions more in security funding in the stimulus bill passed last year.

White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said, "When all federal funding is totaled, NYC has received a net increase of $47 million for port and transit security over the previous year's budget, the last signed into law by the Bush Administration. Those who suggest otherwise are not counting the more than $100 million in port and transit security grants for NYC from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. With that money, the total for NYC will be $245 million, more than $47million than what was allotted by the Bush Administration in the previous year. In fact, one out of every three recovery dollars for transit and port security went to NYC, making them the largest recipient in the country."

Obama will be in New York today for a political fundraiser and will reportedly meet with members of the NYPD to congratulate them on their work on the SUV bomb case.