Washington, D.C. just lost $40 million in homeland security funding, and the timing couldn’t be worse. The administration’s decision to cut anti-terrorism and emergency preparedness grants from the capital’s budget sent shockwaves through city agencies that depend on those dollars for training, equipment, and rapid-response programs.
Officials say the cuts could cripple programs designed to protect key federal buildings and events. Critics argue the move is political, punishing a city that rarely aligns with the administration’s agenda.
Whatever the motive, the result is the same: a less-protected capital in an era when threats no longer announce themselves.
Cyberattacks, lone-actor terrorism, and foreign espionage don’t respect jurisdiction lines. For a city that houses every branch of government, budget decisions like this ripple far beyond city hall.
If homeland security is about preparedness, Washington just got a lot less prepared.
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