Schumer defends NYC terror budget

WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) -- Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., took issue Sunday with the Obama administration's decision to reduce anti-terrorism funding for his state.

Schumer said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that New York City was the No. 1 terrorist target in the world and denied that the city had a surplus of grants it had not yet spent.

The White House said it was reducing its funding for NYC anti-terrorism programs by 27 percent, in large part due to a backup of unspent funds from previous years.

Schumer contended that while funds had not technically been spent, as Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano contended, it had been earmarked for multi-year contracts and will be spent in coming years.

"Bottom line is a lot of the money hasn't been spent because FEMA, an agency under the jurisdiction of the Homeland Security, hasn't spent it," Schumer said.