District Will Get an Increase in Terrorism Funds

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced that Washington, DC and five other urban areas will compete for a share of $411 million in additional Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) funds. The new money represents a reversal of the funding plan announced by DHS that removed DC and New York from the list of high priority terrorist targets. District and federal officials opposed last year’s plan and put intense pressure on Secretary Chertoff to increase funding for the vulnerable areas. The District and the five other designated high-risk urban areas will receive nearly $30 million more than last year. District hospitals could benefit from the new infusion of terrorism funding