'Catastrophic': Ex-NYPD Chief gives stark warning about Trump cutting millions in funding

Funding & Security Concerns - Loss of funding for counterterrorism efforts is viewed as catastrophic, endangering Americans nationwide [2][3] - New York City remains a top terrorist target, making funding cuts particularly detrimental [9][26] - Cuts jeopardize the partnership between the FBI and NYPD, crucial for counterterrorism due to NYPD's extensive street presence of 40,000 officers [12][13][15] - Federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the funding withdrawal, citing potential retribution for sanctuary city policies [25] Program Evolution & Threat Landscape - Existing security initiatives (Urban Area Security Initiative and Homeland Security Grant Program) developed post-9/11 need to evolve to address targeted violence and changing threats [4][5] - Focus is shifting from foreign to domestic actors, impacting the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTF) [16][17] - Executive order broadens the definition of potential terrorists, raising concerns about civil rights and potential misuse [18][19][20] Political & Financial Implications - Funding cuts are perceived as politically motivated, potentially linked to immigration policy [6][7] - The White House may view federal dollars as fungible, expecting state and city to compensate for lost funding [8] - Loss of federal funding shifts the financial burden to New York taxpayers, requiring city budget allocation for counterterrorism efforts [27][28][29]