Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are calling on the Trump administration to immediately reverse what they described as a reckless and dangerous decision to cut more than $300 million in federal health funding for New York.
The senators blasted the move—announced without warning—as a direct threat to addiction recovery programs, mental health services, and infectious disease preparedness across the state.
“Cutting off funding for addiction recovery programs in the middle of a fentanyl crisis and slashing mental health support is just plain cruel,” Schumer said. “Ripping away this $300 million in federal support… will risk people’s lives.”
The funding, previously awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was reportedly revoked at the direction of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an office Schumer accused of gross misjudgment. He warned the cuts could lead to abandoned research projects, job losses, and an unraveling of critical public health infrastructure.
Gillibrand echoed those concerns, calling the cuts devastating for vulnerable communities. “Now is the time to invest in these important initiatives, not cut them,” she said.
In a joint letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the senators urged immediate restoration of the funding, emphasizing that New York is already seeing a rise in measles cases and continues to battle substance use disorders. The cuts, they said, would hobble efforts by county health departments, school systems, and local organizations that rely on federal grants to fight disease and support those struggling with addiction and mental illness.
The letter also highlighted the broad reach of the funding, which supports laboratory capacity, community health workers, and local health departments throughout the state. With New York City welcoming more than 50 million visitors annually, the senators argued that pulling back on disease prevention funding could pose a risk not only to New Yorkers, but to public health nationwide.
Schumer and Gillibrand demanded transparency from HHS and DOGE, citing a lack of information about which programs would be affected and how many jobs were on the line.
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