Sen. Charles Schumer launched a rare attack on President Obama Sunday, slamming the White House for proposed budget cuts that would deal a blow to local counterterrorism efforts.
Schumer called the proposed 2017 budget — which calls for slashes to the Urban Area Security Initiative, from $600 million to $330 million — a “punch in the gut” to law enforcement working in anti-terrorism.
“UASI is the lifeblood of New York’s anti-terror programs and funds the massive terror prevention program for downtown Manhattan and its expansion into Times Square and Midtown,” he said.
“The president in general has been very good on security, but this is a serious mistake.”
New York’s senior senator said these cutbacks would not get congressional approval — “not on my watch.”
A bulk of that localized anti-terror funding goes to New York City, an aide to Schumer said.
From fiscal year 2012 to 2015, the Big Apple’s cut has steadily increased from $151.6 to $174.3 million to $178.9 million and to $180.9 million by 2015.
The final figure for fiscal 2016 and the potential cutback to New York in 2017 has yet to be determined, according to aides.
“Long and short, these are dollars the NYPD and others in law enforcement use to keep us a step ahead of the bad guys,” Schumer said. “New York City — always a top terror target — needs all the funding it can get to help make sure we are kept safe.”
‘These dollars prevent costly and crippling disasters. But most importantly, these dollars save lives’
- Sen. Chuck Schumer
Lives are on the line with these budget cuts, Schumer insisted.
“I’m here to tell the bureaucrats in Washington [they] need to go back and do their homework on New York City and the NYPD because these dollars are an investment.
“These dollars prevent costly and crippling disasters. But most importantly, these dollars save lives.”
The White House had no immediate comment on Schumer’s criticism.
Program funding goes to such efforts as training the FDNY for terrorist attacks and the NYPD for active shooters.
Money also goes to extra patrols at local airports, transit hubs and waterways.
With the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., not far in the rear-view mirror, Schumer said urban security against terror is as crucial now as ever.
“This funding is simply too important to New York City’s security and should not be restricted,” he said.
“I pledge to fight tooth and nail in Congress . . . to make sure that dollars allowing us to be proactive against terror threats are increased in New York City and across the country.”