Fox falsely suggests NYC will receive less money this year for transit and port security
Published
Fox & Friends repeatedly criticized the Obama administration for what they characterized as “slashing” New York City's transit and port security funding, calling it “shocking” and the “moral equivalent of Katrina.” However, New York City is reportedly set to receive $47 million more for transit and port security than last year as a result of stimulus funds, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Fox & Friends attacks administration for “slashing” NYC security funds; “the moral equivalent of Katrina”
Peter Johnson Jr.: “We have the moral equivalent of Katrina here ... the federal government is turning its back on New York City.” In a segment about the funding, Fox News legal analyst Peter Johnson Jr. said the cuts are “the moral equivalent of Katrina here” and that “the federal government is turning its back on New York City.” Later, Johnson asked whether the president was saying “drop dead” to New York. He added, “This is America. Why won't we protect Americans? Why are we playing games with a few dollars when lives are at stake?”
Michelle Malkin: Administration “remains incredibly unserious domestic homeland security.” In another segment with Fox News contributor Michelle Malkin, co-host Steve Doocy said the administration is “taking money away from the number one city in America with the big target on its back,” and Malkin replied, “Yeah, heck of a job, Barry. You know, I thought the Obama administration was filled with brilliant PR strategists. It's not just the fact that this is bad public policy, but also really bad timing.” Later, Malkin claimed that “this administration remains incredibly unserious about domestic homeland security.”
Fox & Friends: “Shocking” that Obama is coming to shake hands “at the same time” DHS is “slashing” NYC anti-terror budget. In another segment, Doocy said it's “shocking” that Obama will “shake the hands of the people who thwarted the attack with the Pathfinder in Times Square today” and “at the same time” the Department of Homeland Security is “slashing” New York City's anti-terror budget. During the segment, the following on-screen graphics aired:
DHS: NYC actually has a boost in transit and port security funding this year because of stimulus
Newsday: DHS said “the New York City area will actually see an increase of $47 million” due to stimulus. Newsday reported on May 13 that New York lawmakers said “New York City's public transportation security grant will drop from $153.3 million last year to $110.6 million this year, while its port security grant will dip from $45 million to $33.8 million.” The report further stated that the Department of Homeland Security “countered ... that the New York City area will actually see an increase of $47 million in combined transit and port security funding. The stimulus bill passed last year included an additional $300 million for the two programs, and New York City area agencies will be getting about $100 million of that amount, a spokesman said.”
WSJ: DHS said the stimulus sent NYC “much more than the decrease in this year's regular budget spending.” The Wall Street Journal also reported that “Matthew Chandler, a DHS spokesman, said the reduction was based solely on Congress putting less money into the overall program for the budget year because the economic stimulus bill put an even larger amount into the port and transit security programs” and that Chandler “said the stimulus bill sent New York about $100 million in such antiterror funds, much more than the decrease in this year's regular budget spending.”
DHS: Congress appropriated fewer dollars “as a result of dollars already provided under the Recovery Act.” A May 12 Politico report quoted a DHS statement that said: “The Recovery Act appropriated $300 million for Port and Transit Security Grant Programs, more than $100 million of which went to the New York City area. In FY 2010, Congress subsequently appropriated fewer dollars for Port and Transit grants as a result of dollars already provided under the Recovery Act.”
Ambinder: “Port and transit security grant funding in New York City increased by 24% from the Bush to Obama administrations.” Marc Ambinder of The Atlantic wrote on May 13: “Overall port and transit security grant funding increased 14% from the Bush to Obama administrations. Port and transit security grant funding in New York City increased by 24% from the Bush to Obama administrations.”
$832 million in anti-terror dollars for urban areas reportedly “has yet to be divvied up”
WSJ: Larger pool of anti-terrorism money has “yet to be divvied up.” The Journal reported in the same article that "[t]he port and transit grant money programs aren't the ultimate prize in the annual contest for federal antiterror dollars. A larger, separate pool of money for urban areas, $832 million, has yet to be divvied up." Indeed, the Department of Homeland Security's Urban Areas Security Initiative grant goes toward “enhancing regional preparedness in major metropolitan areas” and mandates that 25 percent of the funding go toward anti-terrorism activities.