White House insists security funds rising for NYC

The Obama administration pushed back Thursday at New York lawmakers who expressed dismay at Homeland Security funding cuts less than two weeks after the Times Square car bombing attempt, saying the total federal funding for mass transit and port security for New York City is actually going up.

White House assistant press secretary Nicholas Shapiro said earlier reports ignored $100 million in stimulus funding for port and transit security grants. He said that gives the city a total of $245 million. "What just happened the other day was the [Homeland Security grant] money was actually being awarded," he said, "but the amount was announced back in December 2009."

Word of specific cuts to federal Homeland Security grants for public transportation and port security leaked Wednesday and were announced Thursday. The city's grant for the former dropped from $153.3 million to $110.6 million; for ports, from $45 million to $33.8 million.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he has called on the Obama administration to make up for those cuts by providing New York with a $57- million boost to the city's share of a third pot of security grants that have yet to be awarded - the Urban Area Security Initiative grants.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D- N.Y.) said she was "deeply disappointed" in the funding cuts, but "I am hopeful that . . . the decision [will] be reconsidered."

Concerned over the cuts in federal security aid, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he talked Wednesday with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. "Rahm made a commitment to me that he would work with us on this issue," Bloomberg said.

Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Roslyn Heights) said, "The . . . failed bombing attack in Times Square shows that New York is the preferred destination of terrorists, not just tourists."

Long Island's delegation expressed disappointment.

"The administration should be dramatically increasing funding to protect New York, not decreasing it," said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola).

Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) called the cuts "dangerous and unconscionable."

Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) said, "DHS needs to immediately reset their priorities."

"When you're in a war, you prioritize resources to the front lines," said Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton).

With Andrew Strickler,

Reid J. Epstein and AP