More than 30 cities lose antiterror funds

May 20, 2011|Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security has notified more than 30 cities across the country that they are losing antiterrorism funding from the federal government.

The department said yesterday that money for the Urban Areas Security Initiative grants has been cut by about $170 million as part of a larger budget cut that eliminated more than $780 million in grant money from the latest federal budget.

The budget cuts mean that only 31 high-threat urban areas, including New York and Washington, will still receive grants this year.

Boston is still eligible for the funding through the Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Areas Security Initiative grant program, but Providence will lose it.

Senator Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut independent and chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said Connecticut stands to lose about half of the Homeland Security money its cities have received in recent years. He said Bridgeport and Hartford, which received a combined $5.5 million last year, are among the cities being cut from the program.

Texas is taking the largest hit, with Austin, El Paso, and San Antonio no longer eligible to receive millions in funding. Combined, the cities received more than $14.5 million in federal funding last year.