“New York wants you” Gov. Kathy Hochul mentioned to federal staff impacted by the DOGE federal layoffs.
Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell.
Gov. Kathy Hochul blasted Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) on Monday after she met with federal staff who felt the ax from President Trump’s billionaire right-hand man.
The governor held a roundtable dialogue at her Manhattan workplace with these lately laid off as a part of Musk’s DOGE cutbacks. The assembly aimed to make clear the surprising layoffs and marked the enlargement of Hochul’s “You’re Hired” initiative to recruit skilled public sector staff into New York’s state service.
Members affected by the shocked releases shared a collective frustration: the abrupt termination of their roles has left them grappling with uncertainty, each emotionally and financially.
Hochul didn’t draw back from expressing her disdain for the forces answerable for the federal cuts. Her message was clear: in New York, public servants are valued, not vilified.
“Elon Musk and his clueless cadre of career killers know nothing about how government works, who it serves, and the tireless federal employees who keep it running,” she mentioned. “While DOGE says ‘You’re fired,’ New York is ready to say ‘You’re hired’ — and we’re making sure talented, experienced federal workers know about the many opportunities available in our state workforce.”
Governor Hochul convened a roundtable dialogue with a bunch of public sector staff impacted by federal layoffs pushed by the “so-called” Division of Authorities Effectivity.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell.
First introduced final week, the “You’re Hired” program is increasing to incorporate digital billboards designed to draw federal staff in Washington, D.C.’s Union Station and New York’s Moynihan Station.
The roundtable additionally led to the creation of a brand new brochure geared toward impacted federal staff, detailing job alternatives inside the state and offering assets to assist their job search efforts.
Luke Graziani, a veteran who was lately terminated from his job at a Bronx VA hospital, has over 20 years of army service. He mentioned he was shocked and upset to be laid off.
“After my two decades of military service, including four combat tours, I never imagined that one day I’d be terminated from my job at the VA and treated like nothing more than a number in a spreadsheet. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul for providing this forum for us to share our experiences,” he mentioned.
The repercussions of federal layoffs may lengthen past the people affected however may additionally create ripple results that affect whole communities. Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell.
Graziani and different contributors within the roundtable emphasised the broader implications of dropping seasoned public servants who play key roles within the functioning of varied important companies.
“This has been a deeply challenging time, not only for us and our families but for thousands of other hardworking federal employees and the many Americans who rely on the services delivered by our agencies,” a bunch of impacted staff who need to stay nameless in worry of retaliation mentioned in a press release.
New York at the moment has greater than 7,000 job openings throughout varied sectors, together with healthcare, expertise, engineering, and extra. Hochul mentioned she is trying to appeal to expert people to fill these roles.
“We are in competition for the top attorneys, the top engineers,” she mentioned. “I want to know when the storms are coming. I want to make sure that our consumers are protected.”
The recruitment marketing campaign is a component of a bigger technique to rebuild the general public workforce, which has confronted important challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
To help these impacted by the layoffs, the state Division of Labor is internet hosting a sequence of knowledge classes and free webinars that provide steerage on assist companies.
“Recruiting former federal workers into State service benefits all New Yorkers,” mentioned state Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “Workers get good paying, stable employment and the State gets seasoned civil servants eager to lend their expertise to supporting government services.”
Moreover, the state is making strides in employment accessibility by way of packages just like the Veterans Non permanent Hiring Program, which goals to ease the trail for veterans coming into state service. The division can also be waiving sure civil service examination necessities to expedite the hiring course of, signaling an pressing have to reintegrate skilled staff swiftly.
Hochul mentioned she discovered that the cutbacks got here “so wildly unexpected” for the federal staff she met with. She pressured that public servants in authorities contribute to America’s greatness.
“New York does want you, New York needs you; come work in the greatest state in the nation,” Hochul mentioned. “It’s not the demagogues and the technocrats who make America great, it’s public servants.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul desires impacted federal staff by DOGE to work with New York State and metropolis.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell.
