Trump slashes D.C. security budget by $20M during crime remarks

Washington, D.C., will see its federal security funding reduced by $20 million this year under a Trump administration plan, despite the president’s repeated claims that crime in the capital is spiraling.

 A notice from the Fedral Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) last week revealed that the city and its surrounding areeas will receive $25.2 million from the Urban Area Security Initiative, down 44% from last year.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, said the cuts were made to reflect the 'current threat landscape,' noting a shift from large-scale, coordinated attacks like 9/11 to smaller, more localized assaults targeting public spaces.

Similar reductions will affect Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Jersey City, and San Francisco, though D.C. faces the steepest drop.

Funding from the program has previously supported hazmat training, law enforcement staffing, and emergency communication upgrades in the National Capital Region.

While FEMA has $553.5 million to distribute nationwide this fiscal year, it is unclear how much of D.C.’s total security budget relies on this federal allocation.

The cuts come as Trump has ordered more federal police on the streets following an attack on a staffer in the capital, underscoring his ongoing effort to assert greater federal control over the city. Official data shows violent crime in D.C. fell 35% between 2023 and 2024.

Copied