In a post on X, Schumer insinuated that cuts implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency could have contributed to the accident in New York City.
“With the Brooklyn Bridge strike last night,” Schumer began his post. “I’m fighting for answers about whether Trump and DOGE have impacted water traffic control.”
“We know they’ve been meddling with U.S. Coast Guard staffing,” the senator added. “Trump relieved Admiral Linda Fagan as Commandant of the USCG, and that position is still vacant.”
Schumer didn’t explain exactly how any of the DOGE cuts could have contributed to the crash in any way. The Trump administration’s decision to relieve Admiral Linda Fagan is unrelated to the DOGE cuts or traffic control issues.
Nevertheless, Schumer continued hypothesizing.
“And the hiring freeze has limited the ability for the USCG to staff up the Vehicle Traffic Service, that’s their traffic control operation that acts like Air Traffic Control but on water,” Schumer wrote. “We need action for our national security, infrastructure protection, and public safety.”
The Department of Homeland Security rejected Schumer’s insinuations and rebuked the senator.
“Minority Leader Schumer’s accusations that a hiring freeze led to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Services not being adequately staffed are FALSE,” read a post on Homeland Security’s X account. “The US Coast Guard has been fully supported and been exempt from hiring freezes. Additionally, this incident had nothing to do with Vessel Traffic Services— when a ship loses propulsion in a high current area, the vessel needs to engage all capabilities to stop and ideally tugs are nearby to support.”
The DHS account then questioned Schumer’s knowledge of such nautical matters and criticized him for misleading people.
“We encourage Minority Leader Schumer to get his facts straight before he misleads the American people,” added the DHS X account.
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Initial reports of the accident do not align with Schumer’s accusations. The Associated Press reported on Sunday night that “turbulent waters” might have been to blame as the vessel was operating in the East River as a 10 mph wind gust was happening. Additionally, the ship was in an area where the “tide had just turned, and a fast current was heading up the East River.”
The National Transportation Safety Board is analyzing the details of what happened in the crash, according to the Associated Press. However, the investigation’s results are not expected to be ready for several months.
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
