The federal government is now shut down. Lawmakers missed a Wednesday deadline to keep federal money flowing, despite back-to-back votes in the Senate. Each party voted against the other’s plan. A number of New York’s federal and state elected officials chimed in on the shutdown below:
Governor Kathy Hochul:
“Donald Trump has been clear: he is intent on using his reckless government shutdown to hurt the American people. In just 24 hours, his administration has defunded New York’s law enforcement and counterterrorism efforts and halted $18 billion in funding from critical infrastructure projects in New York City. This is political payback and an attack on New York and its residents, and it puts every family across our state in harm’s way.
“Every New Yorker should be outraged. From the construction worker who could lose their job, to the commuter stuck on a delayed train, to the families who rely on brave law enforcement officers to keep them safe. I will not sit idly by while Donald Trump defunds public safety and lets our infrastructure crumble. We will use every tool available to us to restore this funding and ensure that these critical infrastructure projects get built and keep every New Yorker safe.”
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli:
“A federal government shutdown has painful consequences for our state. Prolonged shutdowns hurt the economy, disrupt critical services, and harms federal workers. Some individuals may have their benefits delayed and business operations may be interrupted. Over 115,000 federal employees work in New York, ranging from healthcare workers to engineers to parks workers. The longer the shutdown drags on, the more families and businesses will suffer. Our economy is slowing down and prices are high. New Yorkers and all Americans deserve action to get government back up and running.”
Rep. Claudia Tenney:
“House Republicans did our job. We passed a clean, bipartisan continuing resolution to keep the government open, protect paychecks for our troops, Border Patrol agents, TSA officers, and air traffic controllers, while ensuring essential services continue for the American people. Democrats chose political theater over the people they represent and voted to shut the government down.
“By voting no, Democrats turned their backs on our service members, veterans, and all our federal law enforcement officers. Instead, they are demanding a reckless $1.5 trillion partisan spending spree, slashing rural hospital funding, forcing taxpayers to bankroll healthcare for illegal immigrants, funneling billions into foreign DEI programs, and handing $500 million to liberal media outlets. This is irresponsible and dangerous.
“A short-term clean CR simply extends funding for seven weeks to give Congress time to finish Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations. Democrats voted for this same kind of measure 13 times under Joe Biden without a single shutdown. The only difference now is President Trump. To oppose him and advance their radical agenda, they are holding the government hostage.
“House Republicans remain committed to governing responsibly. We voted to keep the lights on, safeguard essential services, and protect taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars. Democrats must explain to the American people why they chose chaos over common sense.”
Rep. Nick Langworthy:
“Republicans are united in our commitment to getting this nation’s finances back on track and restoring fiscal sanity in Washington. While we’ve worked in good faith to keep the government open and responsibly funded, Democrats are once again steering us toward a Schumer Shutdown with reckless demands that are completely out of step with the will of the American people. A shutdown means our men and women in uniform won’t get paid, critical services for veterans and seniors are jeopardized, and families across the country are left in limbo. Hardworking Americans deserve accountability and discipline in Washington, not partisan games fueled by Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand:
“Today, President Trump and congressional Republicans proved that they would rather shut down the government than make Americans’ health care more affordable.
“The reality is, working families are struggling in President Trump’s America. Over the last eight months, the American people have seen their grocery bills go up, their electric bills rise, and the cost of everyday essentials climb. Families are paying more for everything from back-to-school supplies to clothing — all while this administration has worked to strip health care from millions of Americans so they can hand out tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy.
“20 million Americans are on the brink of seeing their premiums skyrocket. If we don’t extend the health care assistance that families rely on, many Americans will have to make impossible choices: pay rent or see a doctor; put food on the table or buy their child’s medication; keep their small business afloat or offer their employees health insurance. This is a Republican-manufactured health care crisis with potentially life-threatening consequences.
“Democrats stand ready to work on a bipartisan basis to keep health care costs low and reopen the government. I’m calling on my Republican colleagues to come to the negotiating table and prioritize American families over billionaires.”
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