The Obama administration's proposal to chop $90 million from New York City's anti-terrorism funding is an "outrageous" idea that could be very dangerous for the metropolis, former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik tells
Newsmax TV.
"I can't say the reason for the cuts but I will tell you this, it's outrageous that anyone would even consider cutting, especially New York City," Kerik said Monday to J.D. Hayworth on "Newsmax Prime."
Watch
Newsmax TV on
DIRECTV Ch. 349,
DISH Ch. 223 and
Verizon FiOS Ch. 115. Get
Newsmax TV on your cable system –
Click Here Now
"National security funds, Homeland Security funds in general should not be cut given that the FBI director, the CIA director, the Homeland Security secretary have all said the threats against this country are increasing.
"With that being said, who in their right mind would cut the funds we need to have a safe and secure city, like New York City, knowing it's the number one principled target of ISIS and al-Qaida in any one of these radical groups going back to long before Sept. 11. So it's ridiculous it's even being talked about."
On Sunday, Ray Kelly, another former New York City Police Commissioner,
accused the Obama administration of slashing the city's counterterrorism funding 50 percent in retaliation for Sen. Chuck Schumer not backing the White House's Iran deal.
He said such a cut from $180 million to $90 million would significantly impact on New York's readiness to deal with terrorists.
"There's a certain amount vindictiveness on the part of Washington aimed at Sen. Chuck Schumer," Kelly said Sunday on
"The Cats Roundtable" on AM 970 in New York.
The cuts would be part of Obama administration's plan to cut from the proposed federal budget nearly $300 million from the Urban Area Security Initiative which funds major metropolitan areas.
Kerik is author of
"From Jailer to Jailed: My Journey from Correction and Police Commissioner to Inmate #84888-054," published by Threshold Editions.
Related Stories:
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.