Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) faced swift backlash after suggesting that budget cuts under President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) contributed to the fatal crash of a Mexican Navy tall ship into the Brooklyn Bridge. The incident resulted in the deaths of two cadets and injuries to at least 17 others.
Schumer claimed that reductions in Coast Guard staffing and resources, due to “meddling by the Trump administration,” may have impaired maritime safety systems. He pointed to potential deficiencies in the Coast Guard’s Vehicle Traffic System, likening it to an “FAA-like traffic control operation,” and warned that if the system was compromised, “the Brooklyn Bridge accident would be a national harbinger, demanding immediate attention.”
However, official reports attribute the crash to a mechanical failure that disabled the ship’s steering, leaving it vulnerable to East River currents. The Coast Guard responded promptly, deploying crews and establishing a safety zone. There is no indication that recent budget cuts affected operational readiness.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams refuted Schumer’s claims, stating that the Coast Guard, NYPD, FDNY, and EMS all delivered a full and effective emergency response. Adams emphasized, “We have the boats that were needed, we have the manpower that was needed, and we responded accordingly to get those 19 injured off the ship.”
Critics accused Schumer of politicizing a tragedy to deflect from his own declining poll numbers and controversies. The senator has faced criticism for supporting a Trump-backed budget bill and for his silence on questions regarding then-President Joe Biden’s mental fitness.
