Hochul slams federal government shutdown, accusing it of “disregarding people’s livelihoods”

On the 1st, Governor Hochu joined numerous Democratic elected officials in a rally to condemn and oppose the federal government shutdown, placing the blame squarely on Republicans and emphasizing the numerous adverse effects it will have on New York State.

Hochu stated, “After voting to cut food assistance and health care coverage for millions of New Yorkers, Republican members of Congress—including seven from New York—have once again irresponsibly sided with President Trump, leading to the federal government shutdown. Republicans had the opportunity to stand up for their constituents, but they chose to leave Washington, D.C., rather than work in good faith to avert a shutdown. The Republican shutdown will have a devastating impact on workers, small businesses, and families across the state. Republicans in Washington, D.C., must take their responsibilities seriously, truly speak for the people, and sit down to end this shutdown.”

The federal government shutdown stems from the failure of President Trump and Congress to reach an agreement by the 1st deadline, ensuring the continued operation of federal government programs and services.

Hochu, along with numerous Democratic elected officials, highlighted the numerous negative impacts the federal government shutdown will have on New York State. These include the forced furloughs of more than 10,000 of the state’s 115,000 federal employees. Essential federal employees, including air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, will be forced to work without pay. Applications for Social Security, veterans’ benefits, and other federal benefits will be suspended or delayed. A prolonged shutdown could deplete funding and suspend benefits for key programs like SNAP and WIC. This threatens funding for Head Start programs across the state, endangering child care and early education for thousands of New York families. Hospitals across the state will be waiting for federal reimbursement. Hundreds of thousands of families and seniors with housing vouchers or living in public housing will face uncertainty about whether their rent will be paid. Farmers will also be left without emergency assistance in the face of adverse trade policies.

The meeting also highlighted the numerous traumas inflicted on New York State by policies previously passed by President Trump and congressional Republicans, including stripping 1.5 million New Yorkers of health insurance, putting 300,000 New Yorkers at risk of losing SNAP benefits, over $3 billion in uncompensated care costs to hospitals annually, $8 billion in annual cuts from the state health system, and $11 billion in losses in overall economic activity, including in the agriculture and food sectors, due to the loss of SNAP revenue.

Furthermore, Hochul announced that New York State would no longer fund the Statue of Liberty’s opening, as it had during past federal government shutdowns.