Gov. Kathy Hochul is taking a stand against what she calls a “reckless purge” of federal employees under President Trump’s administration. The governor held a closed-door roundtable with former federal workers who were abruptly dismissed, hoping New York would support these displaced public servants.

During the meeting, Hochul spoke with former employees, including a 20-year veteran who served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before being terminated from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The governor highlighted the struggles of those now facing job loss, loss of critical health insurance, and financial instability.

“This isn’t just about the workers who lost their jobs,” Hochul said. “This is about the American public losing essential services. These employees protected consumers, investigated tax fraud, ensured food and medication safety, and tracked deadly storms.”

Hochul announced an initiative to recruit displaced federal workers into state government positions to counter these terminations, offering them opportunities within New York’s 7,000 open jobs. In addition, New York is launching billboards in Washington, D.C., and Moynihan Station to encourage affected federal employees to apply.

The terminations have also sparked bipartisan pushback in states like Massachusetts and Vermont, with many ousted workers expected to protest when President Trump delivers his speech to Congress.

As the nation braces for the economic and political fallout of these decisions, the effects of both the tariffs and the federal employee dismissals are expected to continue shaping the landscape in the weeks to come.