New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Finance Committee Chair Justin Brannan, and Governmental Operations Committee Chair Lincoln Restler:

Trump Proofing New York City

Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency are decimating core components of the federal government and leaving massive holes in key government services that New York City depends on like infectious disease control, counterterrorism and emergency disaster response.

These dangerous gaps put the health and safety of New Yorkers in jeopardy, and the City of New York must immediately step up.

While we prepare for the direct impact of painful federal government budget cuts and work to significantly expand our savings, reserves, and rainy day funds, we must also take necessary steps to Trump proof New York City and protect New Yorkers.

Targeted Key Investments:

Protect Public Health & Prevent Spread of Disease
We rely on federal partners to keep New Yorkers safe - from epidemiologists, to vaccine campaigns, and food inspections.  

  • Immunization and Vaccination Hubs ($8M): Cuts to CDC and FDA, coupled with the appointment of anti-vaccine HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., require NYC to take a more proactive approach. DOHMH and H+H should transform the 80 neighborhood health clinics into vaccination and immunization hubs that expand access to vaccines. The City should launch outreach campaigns focused on priority communities.

  • Infectious Disease Dashboard ($1M): NYC can no longer rely on CDC to provide expert guidance and information on diseases. DOHMH should capitalize on the expertise across the City of New York by convening a task force of leading infectious disease experts from voluntary hospitals and research universities and distill key updates, monitor trends, and share trusted guidance through a new dashboard to keep New Yorkers informed and safe.

  • Food & Safety Inspections ($1M): In light of FDA layoffs and City vacancies that limit restaurant inspections, we must prioritize hiring to conduct restaurant inspections and prevent food-borne illness outbreaks, such as listeria and salmonella.

Safeguard Against Terrorism ($2.5M)
NYPD should hire 25 officers for the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau to fortify our globally-respected anti-terrorism unit. It is critical that we act quickly to mitigate the impacts of Department of Homeland Security and FBI layoffs and counter the politicization of public safety operations at DOJ and FBI, including the removal of the widely respected head of the New York FBI Field Office.

Prepare & Respond to Natural Disasters & Emergency Events
New York City relies heavily on federal partners when preparing for and responding to natural disasters.  

  • Disaster Preparedness ($2M): With the evisceration of FEMA, NYCEM must be prepared to stand up large scale emergency responses. NYCEM should train current and retired city workers to stand up shelter facilities, go door to door in impacted communities, and effectively collect information on impacted communities. 

  • Weather forecasts ($500K): Cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration jeopardize our ability to get timely weather forecasts. NYCEM must hire 24/7 meteorologists to ensure we are prepared.

Every city agency relies on the federal government for funding and expertise - from protecting our water supply to investigating housing discrimination - and we must closely monitor and step up to address acute risks created by the chaos and contraction of the federal government.