Federal Government Shutdown Will Cost NYC $500M a Month
The federal government shutdown, now in its 28th day and with no end in sight, is impacting 18,000 federal employees that work at affected agencies as well as an unknown number of low-wage federal contractors in New York City.
NEW YORK CITY—Mayor Bill de Blasio has put a price tag on the partial federal government shutdown on New York City taxpayers—$500 million a month.
The federal government shutdown, now in its 28th day and with no end in sight, is impacting 18,000 federal employees that work at affected agencies as well as an unknown number of low-wage federal contractors in New York City. The mayor added that millions of New Yorkers who rely on federal government programs, such as food stamps, school lunch and rental assistance, and city agencies such as the New York City Housing Authority, are at risk of being affected if the shutdown is still in effect into the month of March.
“In my six years as mayor, New York City has faced storms, attacks and political crises. During each of these crises, I told New Yorkers the truth: that we’d be okay,” said Mayor de Blasio at a press conference yesterday. “On the 27th day of the Trump shutdown, I cannot promise we’ll be okay. Beginning March 1st, millions of New Yorkers will lose a total of $500 million a month in vital federal support, such as food stamps and rental assistance.”
He added that any attempt by the city to fill the void from the lack of federal assistance “would be woefully inadequate to the scale of this crisis.”
The mayor did note that those facing hardships in connection with the shutdown can visit nyc.gov/federalshutdown or call 311 to access appropriate city resources. The city reported that beginning on Thursday, many New York City food stamp recipients will see their February benefits released early rather than in the month of February. The release of March benefits is uncertain due to the federal shutdown.
“We’ll continue to do what we can and fight in Washington, but one thing is clear: this Trump shutdown must end today—our people are counting on a functional government,” the mayor said.
Some of the city programs at risk, according to the mayor include the city’s fight against opioid addiction; food stamps, Section 8 where the New York City Housing Authority and the city’s Housing Preservation and Development agencies spend $97 million and $34 million in federal dollars per month for this program. More than 280,000 New Yorkers utilize Section 8 to pay their rent.
Other at-risk programs or agencies include: the New York City Housing Authority, which spends $79 million per month for operating expenses such as salaries. Approximately 10,000 NYCHA employees will be affected by the government shutdown., the city reports.
The city also listed the Emergency Solutions grants program that receives approximately $1 million in federal funding per month to help fight homelessness in the city; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children; the Continuum of Care program that provides rental assistance for more than 4,000 homeless New Yorkers, the Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids and school lunch programs.