Schumer hits Trump over budget cuts following London attack

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Sunday slammed President Trump over his budget cuts to anti-terrorism programs in the wake of Saturday’s deadly terror attack in London.

Schumer in a statement argued that the United States “must do everything we can to fight” terrorism. “Rigorous vetting and tightening up wherever we have to is essential in this new world,” he said.

His comments came the day after terrorists struck London Bridge, killing at least seven and injuring scores more. 

“Amazingly, with terrorism on the rise, President Trump actually proposed cutting vital anti-terrorism funding in his budget last week,” he added.

{mosads}“He has proposed cutting anti-terrorism funds, including a 25% cut to UASI, a program that is essential to major city police departments, including New York, in their fight against terror. These proposed cuts would make us less safe.”

Schumer said Trump should “immediately abandon these proposed cuts” in light of the recent attacks in Europe.

Schumer has previously criticized cuts to the Urban Area Security Initiative, which aims to combat terror threats, introduced during former President Barack Obama’s tenure.