Senator Chuck Schumer is warning that President Donald Trump’s latest budget proposal would devastate Upstate New York, stripping billions from programs that support seniors, working families, small businesses, and local governments.
Released this week, the so-called “skinny budget” includes deep cuts or complete eliminations of key federal initiatives—from heating assistance and housing aid to economic development and infrastructure support. Schumer said the proposal would rip away resources that are essential to the survival and growth of communities across the region.
“Trump’s budget proposal is an all-out assault on hardworking Upstate New York families and seniors,” Schumer said. “The chaos and cruelty of these cuts to incredibly effective, popular and essential federal programs show no one is safe from government by chainsaw.”
Among the most alarming reductions is the total elimination of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provided nearly $400 million last year to help 1.8 million New Yorkers pay heating and cooling bills. Erie County alone received over $41 million, with tens of thousands of families in Monroe, Onondaga, Oneida, and Albany counties also affected.
Trump’s plan also zeros out funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs—cornerstones of affordable housing and local economic development. That would wipe out more than $71 million in state grants and critical local investments in cities like Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse.
Other proposed eliminations include:
- The Northern Border Regional Commission and Great Lakes Authority, which have delivered tens of millions for infrastructure, health care, and workforce training in dozens of Upstate counties.
- The Economic Development Administration, which has funded over $320 million in projects and supported nearly 40,000 New York jobs since 2018.
- Over $1 billion from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, slashing New York’s opioid response funding by an estimated $100 million.
- An $18 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health, threatening $3.5 billion in medical research grants that support institutions across Upstate New York.
Water infrastructure would also take a hit, with an 89% cut to the State Revolving Funds that help municipalities remove lead pipes and ensure clean drinking water. New York would lose nearly $580 million under the proposed funding levels.
Air service to rural airports in the North Country is at risk as well. The budget slashes the FAA’s Essential Air Service program by 50%, threatening service to Ogdensburg, Massena, Plattsburgh, Watertown, and Adirondack Regional Airport.
Housing assistance would suffer a $3.1 billion reduction across programs for seniors, disabled residents, and low-income families. New York State stands to lose nearly 43% of its current HUD funding—more than $3 billion—by consolidating aid into a weakened State Rental Assistance Block Grant.
Finally, Schumer condemned the proposed $1.3 billion in cuts to NOAA programs, including the elimination of funding for weather satellites and Great Lakes monitoring. “It’s not just dumb, it’s dangerous,” Schumer said, citing risks to weather forecasting, stormwater infrastructure, and lake health in Western New York.
Calling the proposal “dead on arrival” in the Senate, Schumer urged New York’s congressional delegation to reject the cuts. “All NY House Republicans should stand up and be vocal against these cuts,” he said.
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