Legislative Alert: January 31, 2025

President's Message

Keep Calm and Carry On

By now, everyone is aware of the Trump administration’s attempts to freeze federal funding and a slew of other executive orders affecting federal, state, and local government programs that we support and rely on. Fortunately, this unprecedented and illegal attempt to withhold statutorily committed and constitutionally guaranteed funding has been temporarily blocked by a federal court judge.

The danger of withholding federal funding cannot be overstated. Funding provided to states, localities, not-for-profits, hospitals, schools, and businesses is all in jeopardy. Programs and initiatives supported by this funding include education, SNAP, housing, healthcare, infrastructure, manufacturing, transportation, workplace safety, workforce development, and countless others. 

To further confuse the situation, a federal Office of Management and Budget memo announcing the spending freeze has been rescinded. At the same time, the White House Press Secretary maintains that regardless of the decision, the spending freeze is in effect and will be aggressively enforced. Regardless of the mixed messages from the administration on the specifics, we know that funding for the services our members provide, the infrastructure they build, the goods they manufacture, and programs are in peril. We must work together to preserve them.   

We must separate fact from fiction to do this effectively and not let intentional confusion and chaos distract us from working together with a unified and effective voice. That is why, in coordination with the National AFL-CIO, we are working with our affiliates, the New York Congressional Delegation, Governor Hochul, Attorney General James, Comptroller DiNapoli, and the New York State Legislature to limit the harm to New York's workers, their families, and their unions.   

We will all collectively respond to these and future federal actions, whether through the legal system or legislation at different levels of government. Supporting and preserving programs that working families - and those who are less fortunate than ourselves - rely on has and always will be a priority of the labor movement.     

Mario Cilento, President

Upcoming Meetings

LABOR LOBBYISTS MEETING 
Monday, February 10, 2025, 1 p.m. 
This event will be located at the Albany office of the NYS AFL-CIO, 
100 South Swan St. Albany, NY. 
This meeting is for labor representatives only.

NURSE ISSUES MEETING 
Monday, February 10, 2025, 2 p.m. 
This event will be located at the Albany office of the NYS AFL-CIO, 
100 South Swan St. Albany, NY. 
This meeting is for labor representatives only.

INFRASTRUCTURE MEETING 
Tuesday, February 11, 2025, 1 p.m. 
This event will be located at the Albany office of the NYS AFL-CIO, 
100 South Swan St. Albany, NY. 
This meeting is for labor representatives only.

Please RSVP to Nagma Singh at [email protected] for the meetings listed above.