NEW YORK - The Trump administration is threatening to withhold more than $7 billion in funding to New York City, claiming it has failed to quell violence in the streets and is not adequately supporting its police department.

What You Need To Know

  • Attorney General William Barr threatens to withhold more than $7 billion from the city

  • Trump administration claims NYC and two other cities have failed to quell violence or adequately support their police

  • Cuomo and de Blasio say Trump administration has no authority to block those funds, and they will sue if necessary

The move drew immediate condemnation from Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio. 
 


“It makes no sense. It’s not based in the facts in the least,” de Blasio said. “It’s insulting to the people of New York City. And his effort to withhold federal funding is unconstitutional.”

In a press release, Attorney General William Barr offered a counterpoint.

“We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance,” Barr said.

New York, Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon were labeled “anarchistic jurisdictions,” rendering each of them eligible to lose federal dollars.

Governor Cuomo said policing is a local matter, including how much those departments receive in funds, and Congress actually allocates federal funding, not the president. 
 


“The president can’t supersede the law and say, ‘I am going to make those funds basically discretionary,’ which is basically what he would have to do.”

Amid rising crime rates this summer, the City Council and the mayor reached a budget deal that defunded the NYPD by $1 billion. The move came after weeks of protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis.

Many protesters accused the NYPD of using excessive force. There were also incidents of looting, which led the city to impose its first curfew since World War Two, even as it rejected offers to bring in the National Guard. 

“There is just no president in history who has been this irresponsible or divisive, but it’s the only trick he knows,” de Blasio said. “He long ago could have decided to serve everyone or create a broad coalition, he just hasn’t. It’s a base strategy. It’s the only thing he does.”

This is not the first time President Trump has tried to withhold federal funds from cities. In 2017, he was sued for withholding money from so-called “sanctuary cities” that protect undocumented immigrants. 

The courts ruled against Trump on that earlier this year. This latest move is also expected to end up in court.