NYC secures counter-terrorism grant, over 30 cities cut out

The Department of Homeland Security announced counter-terrorism grants on Thursday, cutting more than 30 cities from the grant.

New York City avoided the major cuts, though upstate New York cities will see some reduction.

NYC is set to receive the same amount as last year, $151.5 million, from a program designed to protect at-risk cities and key targets of terrorism.

Due to the dwindling federal budget, more than $780 million in grant money was eliminated, and 20% of overall funding for the program was cut. Subsequently, DHS will eliminate 33 smaller cities including Upstate New York Cities such as Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo. Across the nation, 32 cities out of overall 64 are about to lose anti-terror grants.

the grant program was launched in 2003 in response to security threats, with New York City, Washington, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, and Houston as initially eligible recipients. Since 2008, more than 60 cities were awarded the grants.

The top 10 most at-risk cities on the list will escape the reduction. Later on Thursday, DHS plans to announce which cities are no longer eligible for the grant.