NY lawmakers scramble to respond to Trump's rapid fire of executive orders

New York elected officials on Sunday scrambled to respond to a flurry of executive actions from President Donald Trump during his first two weeks back in office, arguing his efforts to freeze federal aid to states and impose tariffs on neighboring countries would lead to higher costs of living.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand held an event with State Sen. John Liu and Attorney General Letitia James criticizing Trump’s previous effort to freeze federal funding. The federal Office of Management and Budget issued a memo last week attempting to impose the freeze, but it was temporarily halted by a pair of lawsuits. The OMB rescinded the memo, but officials said they still plan to review federal aid.

“ Everything from law enforcement, firefighters, emergency response to infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, disaster relief, nutrition programs, childcare, public schools, all are sustained every day by federal investments,” Gillibrand said at a news conference Sunday. “New York State alone was awarded over $110 billion in federal grants last year.”

In separate appearances on Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul argued Trump’s move to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and increase duties on Chinese imports by 10% would thin out New Yorkers’ wallets. The White House said the changes will go into effect on Tuesday.

“What’s the number one thing bugging the American people right now, bugging New Yorkers, whether you’re in the city, Long Island, Hudson Valley? It’s prices,” Schumer said at a news conference. “Donald Trump is initiating a 25% increase in tariffs on Mexico and Canada, and what’s that going to mean? Higher prices.”

During an appearance on MSNBC, Hochul pointed out many New York businesses rely on trade with neighboring Canada, and warned Trump’s tariffs would harm the Empire State’s economy. She also speculated the President was using the tariffs “as a temporary measure to get the attention of the other countries” to help with U.S. border security.

In the first two weeks of the Trump administration, elected officials said the executive branch has created uncertainty to local and state actors in New York who fear future actions will stop progress on projects and beneficial programs — like the Gateway Program that aims to build new rail tunnels beneath the Hudson River with help from the largest federal grant ever issued for a U.S. mass transit project.

“For the American people it’ll now be a war between prices and their paychecks … if someone tries to convince you, President Trump or anyone else, that this is good for the American family, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I can sell you,” Schumer said.