New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $10 million available to all 57 counties and the City of New York to support the development of Threat Assessment and Management Teams, a key component of local Domestic Terrorism Prevention Plans required under Executive Order 18.
The Executive Order was issued by Hochul in the immediate aftermath of the Buffalo mass shooting in May and is designed to fight the troubling surge in domestic terrorism and violent extremism frequently inspired by, planned on, and posted about on social media platforms and internet forums.
Pursuant to Executive Order 18, the plans must include input from law enforcement, mental health professionals, school officials, social service agencies, and other key stakeholders within their jurisdictions.
“In the wake of the horrific white supremacist attack in my hometown of Buffalo, we committed to confronting and eradicating the scourge of domestic terror,” said Hochul. “My number one priority as governor is keeping New Yorkers safe, and this much-needed funding will be critical to supporting our local public safety partners to confront domestic terrorism within their own communities.
“By working together, we can make sure New York is prepared for any and all risks that threaten our collective security, and prevent future acts of domestic terrorism and extremist violence across the state.”
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Guidance on developing TAM teams, and acquiring funding to do so, was provided to 36 counties and New York City at a recent two-day summit, hosted by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany, N.Y.
DHSES is encouraging localities to develop TAM Teams as a means of mitigating targeted violence. Creating these teams will also contribute to meeting the requirements of creating Domestic Terrorism Prevention Plans.
Each County and the City of New York are eligible to receive up to $172,413 to support these efforts and are required to submit their plans to the state government by the end of the year.
DHSES Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul, our team is working directly with our stakeholders to get funding out the door and provide guidance to meet the challenges ahead and keep New Yorkers safe.”
According to the governor’s office, the recent spike in domestic terror attacks represents one of the most pressing threats to public safety across the United States. In the last decade, domestic terror attacks and plots have tripled nationally. In 2021, there were 73 terrorist attacks and unearthed plots in the United States, including 38 white supremacist and similarly like-minded terrorist attacks and plots.