Donald Trump’s disastrous budget will risk America’s national security and rip away emergency relief from communities ravaged by natural disasters — all to pay for another tax break for the ultra-wealthy. As Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defends Trump’s devastating cuts on Capitol Hill today, the American people deserve to know: Why is the Trump administration putting their billionaire backers over keeping Americans safe? 

Trump’s budget risks America’s national security, slashing funding for cybersecurity and infrastructure as we face increasingly severe attacks. 

Cyber Security Dive: “Trump proposes major cut to CISA’s budget, citing false ‘censorship’ claims” 

“President Donald Trump on Friday proposed cutting 17% of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s budget as part of his Fiscal Year 2026 spending proposal, targeting the agency over what he falsely called a censorship campaign aimed at conservatives.

“Trump’s proposal would cut $491 million from CISA’s $3 billion budget and would eliminate the agency’s work on countering mis- and disinformation, according to a letter that Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought sent to Congress. The letter also mentioned eliminating ‘external engagement offices such as international affairs.’” 

CBS News: “CISA is part of the Department of Homeland Security and manages risks to the country’s cyber and physical infrastructure, such as the energy and communications sectors. It’s also charged with protecting election security infrastructure.” 

New York Times: “Trump Weakens U.S. Cyberdefenses at a Moment of Rising Danger” 

“Similar but less severe cuts have hit the country’s broader cybersecurity defenses, at a moment when ransomware attacks are becoming more sophisticated and efforts to deter state-sponsored attacks have largely failed.

“The innovative Cyber Safety Review Board — based on the National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates transportation accidents — was created by the Biden administration to extract critical lessons from major breaches. It was dismantled soon after Mr. Trump took office, even as it was in the midst of examining Salt Typhoon and trying to figure out how China’s intelligence agencies pierced deep into the American telecommunications system.” 

After slashing hundreds of millions in FEMA grants for communities to prevent disaster damage, Trump’s budget calls for an additional $646 million in cuts. 

ABC News: “The budget proposes $646 million in cuts to Non-Disaster Federal Emergency Management Agency grant programs. …

“FEMA has already been politicized in the administration’s first 100 days; for example, its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program was ended, and the agency’s acting director canceled $188 million in grants to New York City, finding the money inconsistent with Trump administration priorities.” 

E&E News: “Federal Emergency Management Agency acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton wrote in a memo Thursday that the agency will not allocate the $750 million that was planned this year for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grants. The BRIC program funds local projects that reduce damage from flooding, tornadoes and other weather-related events.

“FEMA also will stop funding projects that were previously approved for BRIC grants and are still underway, Hamilton wrote.”

REMINDER: Trump and Noem have a history of playing politics with disaster relief. 

Trump: “If you add Los Angeles into it then you can really do one, big beautiful bill because frankly they want that so badly. They want the money to go out there so badly. And I don’t think we should do a bill until Los Angeles is included, and when Los Angeles is included, we get everything we want.”

Sen. Richard Blumenthal: “I assume you will agree with me that withholding disaster relief by President Trump … is a violation of his duty and of law?”

Noem: *Dodges*

Blumenthal: “I want to ask you yes or no, with all due respect.”

Noem: *Continues to avoid question*

Blumenthal: “So, if President Trump were to say to you, we’re going to withhold money from Connecticut, or Michigan … because we don’t like the governor or we don’t like the politics of the state, you would stand up to him and say, Mr. President, we need to allocate that money?”

Noem: “… I don’t speak to hypotheticals.”