Mayor Bill de Blasio decries homeland security cuts

WASHINGTON — Mayor Bill de Blasio urged a receptive congressional panel on Tuesday “to protect the residents of New York City and all terrorist targets” by restoring $270 million in security grants that the Obama administration cut in its 2017 proposed budget.

De Blasio told a House Homeland Security subcommittee that cutting the Urban Area Security Initiative funding from $600 million this year to $330 million next year would undermine efforts by New York and other cities to prevent and respond to terrorist and other threats.

“We are calling on Congress to fully fund this essential program, which provides crucial funding to our New York Police Department, Fire Department and Emergency Management Department,” de Blasio testified.

“These key agencies play an essential role in our anti-terror response and have kept our city safe for years. In light of recent attacks in San Bernardino and Paris, France, now is not the time to cut corners on our security,” he said.

The mayor’s appeal to Congress was the latest in a series of news conferences, press releases and letters by New York politicians seeking to reverse the funding cuts since President Barack Obama unveiled his $4.2 trillion budget in February.

New York City’s Urban Area Security Initiative grant also funds Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The hearing came as House Republicans battled over the size and cuts in its version of the budget after declaring the Obama spending plan dead on arrival. Wednesday, House appropriators will meet to debate and fill in details on the Homeland Security funding.

De Blasio also met with the New York congressional delegation and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Tuesday.

The subcommittee sided with de Blasio at the hearing, which did not include Obama administration officials.

Rep. Dan Donovan (R-Staten Island), the panel’s chairman, criticized Obama’s proposal for trying to “balance the budget on the back of first responders.” Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.), the ranking Democrat, said, “Together we can fight these cuts and win.”

Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City), a panel member, said, “I think it is very clear that federal government is responsible for protecting the homeland.” Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) dropped by to offer his support.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in February that the grant cuts would not affect New York City’s security because the city had not yet spent $600 million in Homeland Security funding it had already been given.

At the hearing, though, de Blasio said New York City had obligated every Homeland Security grant dollar and will spend the money within the three years allowed for using the funds.

Obama’s proposed $40.6 billion budget for Homeland Security also would cut state homeland security grants to $200 million from $467 million, port security grants to $93 million from $100 million and transit security grants to $85 million from $100 million.