Gillibrand, Schumer sound alarm about impact of potential government shutdown

Democratic U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer sounded the alarm on Thursday about how New York would be affected by a government shutdown.

Gillibrand said over 70,000 federal employees in the state and at least 30,000 service members would be furloughed or forced to work without pay indefinitely.

“If these federal workers are not working, all the places they go for lunch, for dinner, for dry cleaning and bringing their kids to day care – all of that becomes at risk.”

More than 400,000 New Yorkers who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children benefits could risk losing them.

There is also a risk of losing tourism at national parks and historic sites.

Majority Leader Schumer called on Republicans to come to the table.

“We can’t afford to let the extreme fringe views of the House Republican Conference risk a government shutdown and needlessly hurt New York families,” he said.