A federal judge in Manhattan has blocked the U.S. administration’s attempt to withhold approximately $34 million in counter-terrorism funding earmarked for New York City’s transportation sector, ruling that the decision was “arbitrary and unlawful.”
The ruling came after city and state officials filed an urgent motion challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s plan to reduce funding from the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) — a federal grant that helps cities strengthen their preparedness and response against terrorism and large-scale emergencies.
Judge Katherine Polk Failla, who presided over the case, stated in her opinion that the federal government failed to provide a valid justification for the sudden reduction, particularly given New York’s unique status as a high-risk target for terror-related threats.
“New York City remains the most likely target for terrorism in the United States,” the judge wrote. “Curtailing these funds would endanger millions of residents, commuters, and visitors who rely on the city’s extensive transit system.”
Mayor Eric Adams praised the decision, calling it a “victory for common sense and public safety.” He added that the funding is essential for protecting subways, buses, bridges, and tunnels, as well as maintaining critical emergency response systems across the five boroughs.
“We cannot play politics with security,” Adams said. “This city has lived through tragedy before, and we will not allow bureaucratic decisions from Washington to put our people at risk.”
The blocked cuts were originally part of a broader federal spending adjustment that reallocated funds toward emerging cyber and border security programs. However, city officials argued that such a reallocation ignored the ongoing threats faced by urban centers like New York.
Homeland Security officials declined to comment on whether they would appeal the decision but maintained that the agency must balance priorities nationwide.
The $34 million in restored funds will now remain dedicated to critical transit safety measures, including bomb detection units, surveillance enhancements, first-responder training, and emergency communication upgrades.
This ruling reinforces New York’s long-standing stance that it should not face cuts to security funding given its history, population density, and role as a global transportation hub. It also marks a significant legal rebuke to the federal government’s handling of counter-terrorism allocations in urban areas.
