NYC Council Identifies Remaining Funding Gaps in Critical Programs and Services for Older Adults ahead of Monday Hearing on Mayor’s Executive Budget for the Department for the Aging

 

Ahead of the City Council’s Executive Budget hearing jointly held by the Committee on Aging and the Committee on Finance on Monday at 12 PM, the Council identified remaining gaps in funding for older adult services within the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget. While some funding requested in the Council’s Preliminary Budget Response was restored to continue several older adult programs at their current level and restore earlier budget cuts by the mayor, with $128.3 million added to the Department for Aging in the Mayor’s Executive Budget, several investments remain unfunded. These include an enhancement of case management that connects seniors to vital services, expanded access to home-delivered meals amidst increasing food insecurity, and upgrading older adult centers.

Older adults are the fastest-growing age group in the city and face significant barriers to aging in place, such as food insecurity and access to essential support services. These challenges have been exacerbated in the past few years by the pandemic, social isolation, the increased cost of living, and the mayoral administration’s budget cuts to older adult services. Additionally, at a time when the Trump administration is threatening deep federal spending cuts that would harm communities, it’s more important than ever for the City to invest in critical programs that support older New Yorkers.

The following programs were outlined in the Council’s Preliminary Budget Response, but were left out of the Mayor’s FY26 Executive Budget:

Case Management Enhancement

The Council has proposed adding $6.3 million to the Department for the Aging’s budget to enhance case management programs. Case management agencies, contracted through DFTA, provide assessments and link homebound seniors with services, including home-delivered meals (HDMs), home care, information and referrals, and other supportive programs. Case management services for older adults are provided through referrals from older adult centers, HDM providers, hospitals, and other community-based social services and health care agencies. An investment of $6.3 million in baselined funding can fully address the level of demand for this program and clear the case management waitlist, which had approximately 500 people on it at the end of FY 2024, and to better assist in high-need cases where more attention is required.

Home-Delivered Meals Reimbursement Rate Increase

Many older adults are food insecure, relying on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and food pantries to meet their nutritional needs. The Department for the Aging’s HDM program provides an essential nutritional safety net for homebound older adults in need. In the FY 2025 Adopted Budget, the reimbursement rate for the HDM program was increased by $1.00 per meal, bringing the rate to $13.78 per meal. Yet, providers facing rising food and fixed costs have continued to express concern about HDM reimbursement rates being too low. Providers estimate that the current average cost of a meal is $15.31, $1.53 more per meal than they are reimbursed through their city contracts. The Council has proposed an increase in the per meal reimbursement rate for HDMs to account for the providers’ actual costs. Increasing the baseline funding by $7.3 million annually will enable the HDM providers to better serve older adults.

Home-Delivered Meals Weekend Expansion

For many older adults, HDMs are not only their only real meal of the day, but also their only social interaction. Expanding the availability of HDMs to include weekends would ensure that homebound older adults have access to meals and are checked on daily by providers. The Council has proposed an additional $20.6 million in baselined funding to the Department’s budget for the delivery of HDMs on Saturdays and Sundays, bringing service up from five to seven days each week.

NORC Enhancement

Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) are apartment buildings or housing developments that are home to a significant older adult population, though not purposefully intended for older adults. NORCs provide essential services to older adults, including case management, benefits assistance, healthcare management, health promotion programs, and nursing services. These programs aim to promote better physical and mental health for older adults who are vulnerable due to being homebound or isolated. The Council has proposed an additional $5.7 million in baselined funding to the Department for the Aging’s budget for NORCs, bringing it up to $14.4 million, to expand the reach of the current program and to improve services at the 60 NORCs operated across the City.

Older Adult Center Funding Enhancement

Older adult center providers have expressed concerns about the infrastructure needs at many  centers citywide, especially in their kitchens. Without needed upgrades, providers will increasingly be forced to rely more heavily on outsourcing food preparation, which is both more expensive and less nutritious. Investing further in the Department’s Capital Plan would ensure the agency’s ability to effectively deliver much-needed services and programming to the City’s older adult population. The Council has proposed an increase in capital funding for older adult centers by adding $50 million to the Department’s Capital Plan.

Council- Funded Initiatives for Older Adults

The Council’s funding initiatives address service gaps across the city that help connect older adults with resources, socialization, and ensure that older New Yorkers can age in place. The $28.9 million for these various initiatives support programs like Information and Referral Services, LGBTQIA+ Older Adult Services in Every Borough, and Social Adult Day Care. It is critical that this funding, left out of the Mayor’s Executive Budget, is included in the final budget through a continued full commitment towards Council discretionary funding.

NYC Council Identifies Remaining Funding Gaps in Transportation and Infrastructure Services ahead of Tuesday Hearing on Mayor’s Executive Budget for Department of Transportation

Ahead of the City Council’s Executive Budget hearing by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Finance on Tuesday at 10 AM, the Council identified remaining gaps in funding for transportation and infrastructure programs within the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget that leave key initiatives unfunded. While roadway repair, maintenance, inspection, and traffic operations funding were addressed with the inclusion of $1.5 billion in Department of Transportation (DOT) funding in the Mayor’s Executive Budget, up $34.6 million from the preliminary plan, key program investments remain missing. These omissions include $40 million that was requested for street resurfacing.

The following programs were outlined in the Council’s Preliminary Budget Response, but were left out of the Mayor’s FY26 Executive Budget.

Street Resurfacing

DOT’s in-house roadway resurfacing and pothole repairs have decreased compared to previous years. The Council identified street resurfacing as its main priority and area of concern regarding DOT in the Council’s FY2026 Preliminary Budget Response. The Council budget response called on the Administration to provide an additional $40 million in capital funding for street resurfacing, which would allow DOT to repave up to 1,300 lane miles annually. The Administration has not allocated any funding for this request.

Dining Out NYC

The Executive Plan includes an additional $3.8 million in City funding and eight positions in Fiscal 2026 for operational and demolition work related to the Dining Out NYC program. The positions were previously added in the November Plan for FY 2025 only, and $800,000 supports the positions in FY 2026. Additionally, $3 million was added for demolition contracts and other operational expenditures for the program. However, this is one-time funding for FY26, and the Council is requesting additional baselined funding for Dining Out NYC to support the program every year.

Open Streets

The Open Streets program transforms streets into public spaces that allow for a range of activities that promote economic development, support schools, facilitate pedestrian and bike mobility, and provide new ways for New Yorkers to enjoy cultural programming and build community. The Executive Plan includes $2.1 million in additional City funding in FY26 for the Open Streets program to support the program at the current level for the next fiscal year. However, this one-year funding does not address other investment needs identified for Open Streets and the organizations that manage them. 

NYC Council Identifies Remaining Funding Gaps in Sanitation Services ahead of Monday Hearing on Mayor’s Executive Budget for Department of Sanitation

 

Ahead of the City Council’s Executive Budget hearing by the Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management and the Committee on Finance on Monday at 10 AM, the Council identified remaining gaps in funding for sanitation services within the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget that leave key initiatives unfunded. While litter basket service funding outlined in the Council’s Preliminary Budget Response was addressed with $29.7 million in the mayor’s recent budget, along with the restoration of previous budget cuts by the mayor, key program investments remain missing. These omissions include Council priorities to restore funding for community composting, syringe litter cleanup, illegal dumping enforcement, and waste bin reimbursements for New Yorkers to afford complying with the City’s new containerization rules.  

The following programs were outlined in the Council’s Preliminary Budget Response, but were left out of the Mayor’s FY26 Executive Budget:

Community Composting Program For All Continuation

The Council has proposed allocating $7 million in funding to support the continuation and expansion of the Community Composting Program for All, ensuring citywide access to reliable, decentralized composting options. In the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, the Council provided $6.25 million in discretionary funding to support local composting partners. This year’s proposal calls for an additional $7 million in baseline funding by the administration to stabilize operations, expand outreach, and scale capacity. An investment of $7 million in community composting can support staffing, equipment and site operations for local composting, enabling local partners to divert organic waste from landfills and process it locally into compost. It also strengthens public education and outreach efforts, helping more individuals participate in waste separation and reducing overall landfill bound waste.

DSNY Bins Program

The Council has proposed allocating $10.7 million in one-time funding to implement the waste bin distribution and reimbursement program established by Int. 1126-A, which requires the Department of Sanitation to provide official NYC waste bins to eligible building owners or reimburse those who purchase bins on or before August 1, 2026. Eligible buildings include one- to two family homes where the owner meets the income requirement and is enrolled in the STAR or Enhanced STAR tax benefit program. This program promotes equitable compliance with the City’s new containerization requirements by reducing the financial burden on low-to-moderate-income and senior homeowners, ensuring they have access to the official waste bins needed to meet sanitation standards and avoid fines.

Containerization Policy Trash Bin Acquisition Fund

The City is rolling out a new set of rules regarding trash placed on sidewalks in an effort to clean up the streets and cut down on the rat population. The new rules require trash to be put in bins rather than loose bags left on the sidewalk. These rules are being introduced in phases for different types of buildings and businesses, all with the goal of keeping garbage off the streets and making collection more organized. Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), which help clean busy commercial areas, are being required to put the trash they collect into bins too. Many BIDs are worried because the special bins, like CitiBins, are expensive and they do not have the resources available in their budgets to purchase them and may leave BIDs unable to continue funding other clean-up services they finance. Under these new regulations, fines will be levied if trash bags are placed outside a bin. To help BIDs comply with the Department of Sanitation’s new rules on containerization, the City should commit $5 million to support BIDs by supplementing the purchase of containers. These funds will support the purchase of 2,500 Empire Bins for BIDs.

Syringe Clean-Up Services Expansion

Syringe Clean-Up Services are a crucial element in reducing public health harms to New Yorkers from syringe litter. The City’s harm reduction syringe programs have reduced the chances of contracting disease and the number of new HIV cases among syringe users by 95 percent in the last 20 years. The City must expand sanitation services to safely collect used syringes from public sidewalks, streets, and other high-traffic areas in communities.

Council initiatives for Sanitation   

The Council’s funding initiatives address service gaps across the City, including NYC Cleanup, which provides additional neighborhood clean-up services throughout New York City by providing $14 million distributed across every City Council district to support litter collection efforts and graffiti removal. It is critical that this funding, left out of the Mayor’s Executive Budget, is included in the final budget through a continued full commitment towards Council discretionary funding.

NYC Council Identifies Remaining Funding Gaps in Parks and Recreation Services ahead of Tuesday Hearing on Mayor’s Executive Budget for Department of Parks and Recreation

 

Ahead of the City Council’s Executive Budget hearing jointly held by the Committee on Parks and Recreation and the Committee on Finance on Tuesday at 12 PM, the Council identified remaining gaps in funding for city parks within the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget that leave key services unfunded. While funding was added to the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) for its Urban Park Rangers, Tree Stump Removal, and Green Thumb Program to partially address what the Council outlined in its Preliminary Budget Response, key program investments remain missing. These omissions include Council funding priorities to hire adequate Parks Department staff, keep up with tree pruning maintenance, and maintain clean and safe parks. The Council’s budget response identified $65.7 million to invest in Parks programming and services, and the Mayor’s Executive Budget only included $11.7 million for these.

The Parks Department manages more than 30,000 acres of land, or 14 percent of all of New York City. This includes almost 1,000 playgrounds, 800 athletic fields, as well as hundreds of other recreational and athletic facilities. It is estimated that the City’s parks receive over 100 million visits annually, greater than the combined number of visitors to Paris, London, and Berlin last year. Yet compared to other major US cities, New York City allocates much less to Parks in terms of its percentage of the city budget.

The following programs were outlined in the Council’s Preliminary Budget Response, but were left out of the Mayor’s FY26 Executive Budget.

Clean, Green, and Safe Parks

The Council has proposed the baselining of an additional $32.5 million starting in Fiscal 2026. These funds would allow the Department to hire an additional 100 City Park Workers, 50 Gardeners, 50 Associate Park Service Workers, 80 Parks Enforcement Patrol Officers, 85 Climber and Pruners, 31 Capital Project Managers, 35 Community Associates, and 35 Administrative Staff Analysts.

Parks Department Hiring Policy Relief

The citywide two-for-one hiring freeze, initiated over a year ago, restricts hiring, allowing agencies to only fill one of every two vacant positions. For most agencies, this has caused issues related to service provision. The Parks Department, while also subject to the hiring freeze, has an additional issue that has hampered its ability to fill positions in the agency. As a result of recent PEGs, in which the Parks Department provided savings based on attrition and vacancy reductions, the Department currently has an actual headcount that nearly exceeds its budgeted headcount. Therefore, the Department has very few existing vacancies. As a result, the Parks Department is not able to hire under the two-for-one hiring freeze policy and is unable to maintain and clean parks and meet other key goals. The Council calls on the Administration to eliminate the Department’s hiring freeze and allow the agency to fully hire for their true headcount needs.

Tree Pruning and Maintenance

In order for the Department of Parks and Recreation to better manage the City’s trees, the Administration should provide an additional $2.5 million for the tree maintenance and pruning budget, an approximately 25 percent increase in resources. In recent fiscal years, the Department has failed to meet its annual target of 65,000 street trees pruned; in Fiscal 2023, there were 46,097 street trees pruned while in Fiscal 2024, they pruned 54,448 street trees. To increase the maintenance of the City’s trees, the Council calls on the Administration to increase the amount of funding allocated to forestry and horticulture by $2.5 million.

Council Funded Initiatives

The Council’s funding initiatives address service gaps across the city, including $5.4 million for the Parks Equity Initiative to support both community programming in smaller neighborhood parks as well as the work of park and garden volunteer groups. It is critical that this funding, left out of the Mayor’s Executive Budget, is included in the final budget through a continued full commitment towards Council discretionary funding.

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON CITY COUNCIL LAND USE AND ZONING COMMITTEES VOTE ON ATLANTIC AVENUE MIXED-USE PLAN

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after the New York City Council Land Use and Zoning Committees voted in favor of the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan:

“For too long, restrictive, outdated zoning has held our city and our neighborhoods back. To address the city’s decades-long housing crisis and make New York City the best place to raise a family, we must take bold, transformational action to build more homes in transit-rich areas near New Yorkers’ jobs and services. That is why our administration put forward ‘City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,’ the most pro-housing zoning reform in the city’s history, which — along with our five neighborhood rezonings proposed in Central Brooklyn, the East Bronx, Midtown South, Jamaica, and Long Island City — will cement our legacy as the most pro-housing mayoral administration ever. Altogether, our neighborhood rezonings and ‘City of Yes for Housing Opportunity’ will help us deliver more than 130,000 new homes for New Yorkers over the coming decades — opening the door for more housing to be created under this administration than the last 20 years and two administrations combined.

“Today, we took another major step forward toward building and preserving more affordable housing, creating more jobs, and improving streets and parks in Central Brooklyn with the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan. I thank the City Council for advancing our ambitious plan through the Land Use and Zoning Committees and for their shared commitment to a plan that will create the homes that New Yorkers need and will address local priorities. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners in the City Council in advance of a full vote later this month.”

Attorney General James Delivers Over $13,500 Worth of Baby Formula to Rochester Families

 

Donation Comes from AG James’ Settlement with Baby Formula Supplier Paragon for Price Gouging During 2022 Shortage

AG James Has Donated Over $700,000 Worth of Baby Formula from Price Gouging Settlements to Date

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that her office secured more than $13,500 worth of baby formula from baby formula supplier Paragon USA & Co., LLC (Paragon) for families in Rochester. The donation is the result of an investigation conducted by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) into Paragon for price gouging during the national baby formula shortage in 2022. As part of a settlement with OAG, Paragon has paid a $10,000 penalty and must pay an additional $35,000 in donated baby formula or cash. Today’s donation will be distributed to families in need across Rochester by Foodlink, a community organization that serves the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes regions.

“During a nationwide baby formula shortage, Paragon took advantage of New York families, illegally raising the price on formula to squeeze extra profits,” said Attorney General James. “My office made sure Paragon was held responsible for their illegal action and guaranteed that hard-working families in New York received relief. I thank Foodlink and all its partner organizations for distributing this baby formula to help Rochester families in need.”

“We are thankful to Attorney General James for once again providing Foodlink and our new Health & Wellness initiative with additional baby formula,” said Julia Tedesco, President & CEO of Foodlink. “Our partners have highlighted a growing need for baby products and other essential items, especially as grocery prices remain historically high. This generous contribution will greatly benefit our members and their clients who are in urgent need of formula.”

In 2022, Abbott Laboratories closed one of its baby formula manufacturing plants and recalled formula produced there, creating significant hardship for families throughout New York and the nation as formula supplies dwindled and prices rose. Abbott produces over 40 percent of the infant formula sold in the United States, and the plant it closed was responsible for approximately one fifth of total U.S. production.

New York’s price gouging laws prohibit vendors from unconscionably increasing prices on goods that are vital to consumers’ health, safety, or welfare during market disruptions such as the 2022 formula shortage. In May 2022, Attorney General James issued warnings to more than 30 retailers across the state to stop overcharging for baby formula after consumers reported unreasonably high prices.

The OAG’s investigation found that Paragon, which supplies formula to retailers in New York, generated tens of thousands of dollars in additional revenue by raising prices more than 20 percent after Abbott announced its recall.

As a result of a settlement with OAG, Paragon must pay penalties and make formula donations with a combined value of $45,000. This includes a $10,000 penalty to the state that Paragon has already paid and an additional $35,000 that can be paid in the form of donated formula or cash that must be delivered by June 10, 2025.

Today’s donation is the third secured by Attorney General James as part of the settlement with Paragon. In February, Attorney General James secured the donation of $1,500 worth of baby formula to families in Westchester, and in March, $6,300 worth of baby formula to families in Brooklyn. To date, Attorney General James has donated more than $21,400 worth of baby formula as a result of the settlement with Paragon.

Attorney General James is a leader in the fight to protect New York consumers and guard against price gouging. As part of a $675,000 settlement with formula suppliers Marine Park and Formula Depot, Attorney General James secured the donation of over $344,000 worth of baby formula to families in the Bronx in March 2025 and $140,000 worth of formula to families in Rochester in December 2024. In October 2024, Attorney General James led a multistate coalition urging Congressional leaders to support a national ban on price gouging. In March and April 2024, Attorney General James distributed over 9,500 cans of baby formula in Buffalo and New York City from a settlement with Walgreens for price gouging during the formula shortage. In May 2023, Attorney General James secured a $100,000 settlement with Quality King Distributors, Inc. due to unconscionable price increases for Lysol products during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2021, Attorney General James delivered 1.2 million eggs to food pantries throughout the state which were secured as part of an agreement with the nation’s largest egg producers for price gouging in the early months of the pandemic.

New Yorkers should report potential concerns about price gouging to the OAG by filing a complaint online or calling 800-771-7755.

Chinese Company and Three Chinese Nationals Indicted for Unlawfully Importing Pill-Making Equipment Used to Manufacture Controlled Substances

 

A federal grand jury returned a 21-count indictment against a Chinese company and three Chinese nationals for their alleged role in the illegal importation of pill-making equipment, the Department of Justice announced.

According to an indictment returned April 23 and unsealed today, CapsulCN International Co. Ltd. (CapsulCN) and Xiochuan “Ricky” Pan, 40, Tingyan “Monica” Yang, 37, and Xi “Inna” Chen, 30, all of the People’s Republic of China, were charged with smuggling, Controlled Substances Act, and money laundering offenses in connection with CapsulCN’s unlawful import and distribution of tableting machines (also known as “pill presses”), encapsulating machines, and counterfeit die molds capable of producing millions of potentially lethal fake pills. The indictment also charges Pan, CapsulCN’s principal officer and a shareholder, with leading a continuing criminal enterprise. Additionally, four internet domains used by CapsulCN to market and sell illicit pill-making equipment to U.S. customers were seized today in connection with this investigation.

“This indictment and today’s domain seizures send an unmistakable message to criminals in the People’s Republic of China and across the world — the Department will use every weapon in its arsenal to combat those who facilitate the manufacture and distribution of deadly drugs in the United States,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

“This U.S. Attorney’s Office is focused on bringing the full force of justice to anyone who conspires to poison our communities with fentanyl,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Whether through the importation of pill presses and related materials, as alleged in this indictment, or through trafficking precursor chemicals and the drug itself, it is evident that bad actors are determined to harm Americans with fentanyl. Our federal prosecutors, through collaborative efforts with our law enforcement partners, are determined to stop them.”

Many of the fake pills containing fentanyl and other controlled substances seized in the United States are manufactured using relatively inexpensive pill-making equipment — such as pill presses, encapsulating machines, and die molds — obtained from Chinese pharmaceutical equipment companies and imported into the United States. These fake pills often mimic the look, feel, and effect of legitimate pharmaceutical drugs and are particularly dangerous and misleading to U.S. consumers, who may falsely believe they are taking legitimate prescription medication that is safer and less addictive than the fentanyl and methamphetamine the pills really contain.

According to court documents, between December 2011 and April 2025, Pan led CapsulCN, which advertised and sold pill-making equipment to U.S. customers on websites, popular e-commerce platforms, and various social media accounts. CapsulCN marketed and catered to customers seeking to make counterfeit pills that mimicked the look and effect of prescription drugs. In 2020, Pan and Yang created a new brand, “PillMolds,” to advertise, sell, and promote counterfeit die molds to the United States. Although the PillMolds brand was part of CapsulCN, thereafter, CapsulCN ceased marketing and selling die molds via its www.capsulcn.com website and instead did so using the website www.pillmold.com. Today, HSI seized both of these websites, along with two others (www.ipharmachine.com and huadapharma.com) that CapsulCN used to facilitate its unlawful sales and imports of pill-making equipment.

The indictment alleges that, between December 2011 and April 2025, CapsulCN imported and distributed pill presses and encapsulating machines to customers in the United States, knowing or having reason to believe that those items would be used to manufacture controlled substances. CapsulCN also distributed counterfeit die molds, which can be used to compress inactive and active ingredients into pills that mimic the shape and imprinted markings of legitimate pharmaceutical drugs such as oxycodone, dextroamphetamine, hydrocodone, amphetamine, and alprazolam. Drug traffickers often replace these active ingredients in the legitimate pharmaceutical drugs with other controlled substances such as fentanyl and methamphetamine.    

The indictment alleges that CapsulCN concealed the nature and purpose of the pill presses, encapsulating machines, and die molds from U.S. customs officials and law enforcement by using deceptive packaging and false manifests that undervalued and misidentified the contents. Some customers sought to avoid mandatory requirements to report the import and distribution of pill presses and encapsulating machines to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). CapsulCN also allegedly helped conceal the nature of its shipments avoid detection by disassembling the machines and shipping the parts in separate packages, again with false manifests. CapsulCN employees then would direct customers to social media accounts maintained by CapsulCN that contained videos instructing customers on how to reassemble the machines once in the United States.

According to court documents, Yang, Chen, and other CapsulCN sales representatives communicated extensively with potential customers in the United States over company emails and encrypted electronic messaging applications. In these communications with customers, Yang, Chen, and others agreed to smuggle pill-making equipment to U.S. customers and assisted customers in selecting die molds that best replicated identified pharmaceutical drugs. Yang, Chen, and other CapsulCN sales representatives also exchanged electronic messages and emails negotiating payment for CapsulCN products that were smuggled into the United States and imported and distributed for use in manufacturing controlled substances. CapsulCN maintained bank accounts in the People’s Republic of China and accounts with online payment services to facilitate the transfer of funds from the United States to China in furtherance of CapsulCN’s criminal activities.

The HSI El Paso Field Office investigated the case with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, IRS Criminal Investigation’s El Paso Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Trial Attorneys Colin W. Trundle, Cadesby Cooper, Kaitlin Sahni, Edward E. Emokpae, Scott B. Dahlquist, Assistant Director Katharine A. Wagner, Deputy Director of Criminal Litigation A.J. Nardozzi, and Director Amanda Liskamm of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Gregory and Donna Miller and OCDETF Chief Steven Spitzer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas are handling the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Governor Hochul Announces $10 Million and New Application Round of NYFIRST Program to Advance Translational Research at New York Medical Schools

New Application Round Offers Extended 12-Month Application Period and Rolling Admissions for Increased Flexibility

Round 6 Applications and Guidelines Available Here

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a $10 million expansion of the New York Fund for Innovation in Research and Scientific Talent (NYFIRST) and the launch of the program’s latest round. The program, which is administered by Empire State Development, has successfully strengthened the State’s translational research capabilities since its launch in 2018. The program provides grants to medical schools to attract and retain world-class translational research scientists in New York State, with the broader aim of cultivating biotech startups and fostering sustained economic growth through high-skill job creation and commercial opportunities. Translational research builds on basic scientific research to find new ways to diagnose and treat medical conditions. Applications for the sixth round of the program will run a full 12 months with rolling reviews, allowing medical schools to submit applications until April 30, 2026. More information can be found on the NYFIRST page of the Empire State Development website.

“Our NYFIRST program has emerged as a transformative force for scientific advancement, turning New York's medical institutions into powerhouses that attract the brightest minds in research,” Governor Hochul said. “This $10 million investment reaffirms our dedication to fostering a dynamic life science ecosystem where groundbreaking innovations flourish and create sustainable, high-value jobs throughout our state.”

The new 12-month application timeframe provides each medical school the flexibility to put forward its best candidate on a schedule that works best—particularly important when coordinating cross-country relocations of researchers and their teams. Medical schools are eligible to apply only once per application cycle. This flexibility ensures that the investigators recruited represent the top candidates in their fields, with benefits to the state's life science ecosystem continuing well beyond the grant periods. The new application forms are available on the NYFIRST page of the Empire State Development website.

NYFIRST was launched in 2018 with an initial funding of $15 million. The FY25 Enacted Budget appropriated an additional $10 million for NYFIRST recognizing its potential to drive significant life science economic development across the state. The program provides up to $1.0 million in funding to cover costs related to each investigator's research, with all funding requirements detailed in the guidelines.

Since the program's launch, 12 NYFIRST grants have been awarded to medical schools in New York, bringing new talent to the state and directly creating more than 160 new jobs, including 95 new hires from outside New York State. The recruited researchers have brought approximately $25.7 million in NIH and other funding to their respective New York institutions and have since raised an additional $93.1 million in external funding. All investigators recruited during the first five application cycles have created jobs and continue to work at the schools that recruited them, demonstrating NYFIRST is meeting its objectives.