Over $7 billion annually could be at risk under a Trump Presidency
Eliminating even a small portion of Federal funding would have an extraordinary impact on New Yorkers in need
Record homelessness crisis could further worsen
New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer today released an initial analysis of Federal funding for City programs to help identify what’s at stake for New Yorkers as President-Elect Trump prepares to take office. President-Elect Trump recently said that one of his first acts, within his first 100 days, will be to “cancel all Federal funding to Sanctuary Cities.” The Comptroller recently directed staff to explore the ramifications if that were to happen.
This initial breakdown demonstrates that cutting off all Federal funds would have a devastating impact on the City’s budget. The early analysis shows that Federal aid to New York City accounts for almost one out of every 10 operational dollars that the City spends, and many of those dollars go directly to the most vulnerable among us.
Some City agencies – and their respective programs and services – depend more heavily on Federal aid than others, and would be therefore be more vulnerable to cuts. A handful of agencies – eleven out of more than 40 mayoral agencies total – account for 59 percent of all City spending but receive 92 percent of all Federal grant aid. Those agencies include the Department of Homeless Services and the Administration for Children’s Services, among others. The NYPD budget for intelligence and counter-terrorism would also be at risk.
“What we know with absolute certainty is that any cuts in Federal aid to New York will have a devastating impact. We have a record homelessness crisis that will be made much more challenging with any decrease in funding. I urge President-elect Trump to remember that behind every Federal line item is a human face – a family in need, a victim of domestic violence, an AIDS patient, a hungry school child,” Comptroller Scott M. Stringer said. “We are a City that welcomes immigrants—we don’t turn people away based on where they’re from or what language they speak, and that must not change.”
The breakdown shows that the City’s homelessness crisis could worsen, the City could become less safe due to cuts to the NYPD, at-risk children would face cuts to critical programs, and more:
- There are currently more than 39,000 households who benefit from Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers, which are fully funded by the Federal government. If Federal funding ended, the City would either have to cover the $482 million line item, or tens of thousands of New Yorkers might be without a home at a time when the City is already facing a record homelessness crisis.
- The New York City Police Department receives 61 percent of its $380 million Intelligence and Counter-terrorism budget from the Federal government, providing equipment and training to continue to keep our City safe from terrorism.
- Public Assistance Grants through the Human Resource Administration serve more than 600,000 New Yorkers. Of the $1.5 billion in grants, 38 percent is covered by the Federal government.
- Child Protective Services, delivered by the Administration for Children’s Services, could see almost half of its $247 million budget slashed should Federal aid end tomorrow. That would put society’s most vulnerable children at even greater risk of abuse, neglect, and mistreatment.
- The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment program – with a more than $194 million budget – is funded almost entirely by the Federal government. Eighty-six percent of patients enrolled in Ryan White-funded City programs receive an antiretroviral (ARV) prescription.
“We are going to remain vigilant, because these cuts could have devastating impacts to the heart and soul of our City. We are going to do everything possible to protect our most vulnerable,” Comptroller Stringer said.
To view the full analysis, click here.
