February 4, 2008 -- Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman ID-Conn., Monday rejected the Administration’s proposal to cut funding in half for state and local homeland security grants that support first responders and called for close scrutiny of spending on border security.

The President’s Fiscal Year 2009 budget calls for a whopping $2 billion dollar, 48 percent cut to state and local programs administered by the Department of Homeland Security – including a nearly 60 percent cut in funds to firefighters.

This year, as was the case for the past four fiscal years, the Administration proposed slashing overall homeland security grant funding by nearly half. The Administration’s 2009 DHS budget proposal calls for a 79 percent cut in the largest state homeland security grant program, a 60 percent cut to firefighters, a 56 percent cut to transit security grants, and a 48 percent reduction to port security grants.

The Senator further objected to the Administration’s proposals to:

• Eliminate all dedicated funding for first responder communications interoperability.
• Cut in half funding for training and exercise programs that ensure that federal, state, and local officials and first responders are prepared for natural disasters and terrorist attacks.

Related information: DHS Fact Sheet, Chertoff Remarks, IAEM Memorandum