October 3, 2025
Earlier today, state officials gathered at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany to highlight the impact of the Trump administration’s egregious funding cuts to counterterrorism programs in New York State. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security cut critical public safety and homeland security funding in New York by $187 million, despite having the highest risk of terrorism in the nation. This funding supports key counterterrorism, homeland security and public safety initiatives across every county in the state.
The State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC) has received more than $40 million since 2011 in federal funding to support trainers and equipment. The SPTC is currently hosting its annual Excelsior Challenge, the State’s largest and most advanced training event for bomb technicians, canine handlers and tactical team operators who are also supported by this funding. These programs — which ensure our first responders are best equipped and trained to keep New Yorkers safe in the face of emergencies — would be severely limited or cut with the loss of this federal funding.
VIDEO: The event is available in TV quality video available here (h.264, mp4).
B-ROLL: B-Roll of the State Preparedness Training Center and Excelsior Challenge Training Scenarios is available here.
Read more from Governor Hochul’s office here.
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