Comptroller Lander Condemns D.C. Republicans for Federal Government Shutdown

New York, NY — New York City Comptroller Brad Lander condemned Republicans for failing to negotiate a deal to prevent a federal government shutdown. Comptroller Lander previously warned that a government shutdown, especially a lengthy one, would hit New York’s most vulnerable communities hardest and worsen the City’s existing financial problems. 

“Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House, and still couldn’t broker a deal to keep the government open,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “This is a shocking lapse of leadership that will punish millions of New Yorkers by cutting their access to critical government services.” 

Programs potentially affected by an extended shutdown include: 

• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which provides assistance to over 233,000 participants in NYC 

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), relied on by more than 1.7 million New York City residents 

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) which funds the Family Assistance Program and provides cash assistance to 156,000 adults and children, as well as other programs that serve low-income New Yorkers 

• Section 8 rental subsidies, utilized by more than 200,000 New York City residents 

Comptroller Lander called on President Donald Trump and Congressional Republican leadership to take swift action to prevent a prolonged government shutdown, which would have devastating consequences for New Yorkers’ well-being and the stability of the national economy. 

“As Republicans hold federal funding hostage, New York City faces a bottleneck that will compound the challenges faced by already vulnerable communities and threaten the City’s capacity to meet its moral and legal obligations to New Yorkers,” Lander continued. “It’s time for Republicans to stop playing games and negotiate a solution that will help the millions affected by this shutdown—just like the Democrats proposed.” 

House and Senate Democrats united behind a bipartisan continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown that would help working-class people, lower costs, and protect health care for millions. Their short-term continuing resolution would have: 

• Funded the federal government through October 31 to extend time for negotiations on full-year spending bills 

• Made permanent the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits 

• Reversed Medicaid cuts from the budget reconciliation bill 

• Protected Congress’s power of the purse by extending the availability of funds that have been improperly frozen by the Trump Administration 

• Prohibited the Trump Administration from implementing program cuts during the period of the continuing resolution 

• Restored funding for public media and broadcasting that Republicans cut this summer 

• Strengthened security measures for government officials 

Lander emphasized that certain “mandatory” programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, will not be impacted by the shutdown. 

###