NYC Comptroller Lander Convenes Nonprofit Leaders Amid Trump Administration’s Threats to Health and Social Service Funding

 

With the Comptroller’s new tracker, nonprofits can monitor Trump’s funding freeze impacts on New York City’s human services

Today, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander convened a roundtable with over 250 city nonprofit leaders to confront the Trump Administration’s threats to slash health and social services funding. The roundtable, co-sponsored by the Human Services Council, and United Way of New York, highlighted the impact of federal cuts, promoted resources that nonprofits and City agencies can use to stay informed, and advocated for the critical needs across the sector to prevent the collapse of essential social and health services.

“The Trump Administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE are draining our city’s nonprofits and putting thousands of New Yorkers in real jeopardy,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “These organizations do critical work to support survivors, veterans, toddlers, and seniors. Without this vital funding, the nonprofit sector will face catastrophic disruptions, and countless vulnerable New Yorkers will lose access to essential services.”

Over $100 billion in federal grants and payments flow to New York City. Within the City’s Financial Plan, approximately $8 billion of non-emergency federal funds are allocated to City agencies, with over half of that funding allocated to social services agencies. These agencies contract out for many services that are partially supported by federal funds.

The roundtable follows Comptroller Lander’s launch of the Federal Funding Support for Human Service Agencies tracker, which identifies ongoing threats from the Trump Administration to the City’s social and human services programs and outlines strategies for potential mitigation. This tracker indicates which programs require federal dollars and whether that program includes contracted services.

“Millions of New Yorkers rely on a variety of nonprofit services each day that range from social programs—such as senior centers and community sports—to lifesaving programs like food pantries and domestic violence shelters,” said Michelle Jackson, Executive Director, Human Services Council. “Threats to federal funding pose real danger not just to these programs, but to the health and wellbeing of countless New Yorkers. Human service workers and leaders are grateful for Comptroller Lander’s leadership in the nonprofit sector through current and future federal cuts and funding freezes.”

“As New York confronts unprecedented threats to its funding, the urgency for our governments to act in unison with the nonprofit sector has never been greater. Nonprofit providers are the backbone of the city, providing essential services that millions of New Yorkers depend on—and their strength is New York’s strength. United Way of New York City commends Comptroller Lander’s unwavering commitment to transparency, clarity, and empowerment in the face of looming federal cuts,” said Abdullah Younus, Vice President of Advocacy and Government Relations at United Way of New York City. “By fostering trust and deep collaboration between government and the nonprofit sector, we will not only withstand this crisis—we will emerge a stronger and more united New York.”