WASHINGTON --- More cities across the country are considered at high risk of a terrorist attack, according to a new list of funding priorities from the Homeland Security Department.

Last year, the department made 45 cities or regions eligible for a competitive counterterrorism grant program. This year, the list has been expanded to 60 areas that can apply for the nearly $782 million available, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The urban-area grants are one of the department's most popular -- and most intensely debated -- programs. The department divides the regions at highest risk of a terrorist attack into two tiers. The seven highest-risk areas -- including Los Angeles, New York and Washington -- will be competing for about $430 million this year. The remaining 53 will compete for about $352 million. The department plans to release the list today.

The list has grown and shrunk in recent years, based on decisions the department says are not the result of specific threats or concerns but that reflect an overall analysis of threat data. Every year, the list pleases and angers elected officials based on which cities are added or dropped. This year, Congress insisted that the department include more cities.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee, said he is thrilled that cities from his state will receive money. Last year, there were no cities from his state on the urban area list.

Mr. Lieberman's counterpart in the House, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., is also pleased with the department's funding decisions, even though only a small area in Mississippi is included.

But Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., criticized the department for spreading the money too widely.

"Strict criteria should be implemented to ensure that only high-threat cities" get money from the program, she said.