Officials blast plan to cut safety funds
A Bush administration plan to slash anti-terrorism grant programs by more than half would threaten the safety of U.S. cities, several New York politicians charged.
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) blasted the administration’s plan to eliminate some port and rail security programs and cut Homeland Security grants for states and cities from $3.4 billion in the fiscal year 2007 to $1.4 billion in 2009.
“To say, ‘No port security, No transit security,’ when we know that our ports and transit lines are targets for terrorists makes no sense if you want to protect America,” said Schumer.
Other officials said the cuts would penalize a city attacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001, and in 1993.
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