In what can only be considered a kangaroo court intended to trap former President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton in further prosecution (echoing the perjury charge that led to Clinton’s impeachment because, as Senator Lindsey Graham said, “character counts”), the Clinton have refused to testify before the House Oversight Committee. MAGA GOP Chairman James Comer promised to bring charges of contempt of Congress. In a letter to Comer, they lay out why they are resisting this latest act of weaponizing government for retribution and political gain—Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com
Chairman Comer,
We want to take a moment, given everything, to address you directly.
This past year has seen our Government engage in unprecedented acts, including against our own citizens. People have been seized by masked federal agents from their homes, their workplaces, and the streets of their communities. Students and scientists with visas permitting them to study and work here have been deported without due process. The people who laid siege to the U.S. Capitol have been pardoned and called heroes. Agencies vital to the country’s national security have been dismantled. Universities, media companies, and law firms have been subjected to threats to their funding, access, and licensing unless they made concessions and surrendered their right to constitutionally protected free speech. American troops have been deployed on the streets of our towns and cities. The Justice Department has been used as a weapon, at the direction of the President, to pursue political opponents. And most recently and searingly, an ICE agent killed an unarmed mother only days ago.
Every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles and its people, no matter the consequences.
For us, now is that time.
We are lucky by virtue of the positions we held, and the protections afforded by them. But we are not blind. Every day we see the country we have dedicated our lives to improving take step after step after step backwards.
As chairman of this powerful congressional committee, you have immense power to target anyone and subject them to closed door interrogation and more. The decisions you have made, and the priorities you have set as chairman regarding the Epstein investigation, have prevented progress in discovering the facts about the government’s role.
The facts speak for themselves: You subpoenaed eight people in addition to us. You dismissed seven of those eight without any of them saying a single word to you. You made no attempt to force them to appear. In fact, since you started your investigation last year, you have interviewed a total of two people. Two.
A legal analysis prepared by two law firms and provided to you yesterday makes clear your subpoenas are legally invalid. You claim your subpoenas are inviolate when they are used against us yet were silent when the sitting President took the same position, as a former president, barely more than three years ago. We call on you to release that analysis to the public to allow them to see how this is yet another example of the casual disregard of the law of the land. All the while, you have done nothing with your oversight capacity to force the Department of Justice to follow the law and release all its Epstein files, including any material regarding us as we have publicly called for.
Over the last year in the House, extending health care for Americans in any state succeeded only because enough Republicans joined with Democrats. The fact that the public and we are seeing any of the Department of Justice’s Epstein files is only because four Republicans, out of 220, joined every Democrat to reach the minimum number of Members to force a vote. You were not one of those four. Even now, despite the Department of Justice’s failure to follow the law the Congress passed, you have chosen not to consider subpoenaing the sitting Attorney General to follow the law.
Despite everything that needs to be done to help our country, you are on the cusp of bringing Congress to a halt to pursue a rarely used process literally designed to result in our imprisonment. This is not the way out of America’s ills, and we will forcefully defend ourselves.
Indeed, bringing the Republicans’ cruel agenda to a standstill while you work harder to pass a contempt charge against us than you have done on your investigation this past year would be our contribution to fighting the madness.
We have tried to give you the little information we have. We’ve done so because Mr. Epstein’s crimes were horrific. If the Government didn’t do all it could to investigate and prosecute these crimes, for whatever reason, that should be the focus of your work – to learn why and to prevent that from happening ever again. There is no evidence that you are doing so. Instead, you have forced the victims to relive their painful experiences, while doing little to give them and everybody else what’s deserved: truth and justice. There is no plausible explanation for what you are doing other than partisan politics.
You accepted the least from those who know the most but demand the most from those who know the least. To say you can’t complete your work without speaking to us is simply bizarre.
You have asked what we know. To answer your inquiry, we are providing you with the same or more than seven of the other eight individuals you subpoenaed regarding the handling of the Epstein investigations and prosecutions, which may be why you have not publicly released their written statements.
We expect you will say it is not enough. We expect you’ll reject it. You may even set out an empty chair or stand in front of the cameras and outright dismiss what we have provided. We expect you will direct your committee to seek to hold us in contempt. You may even release irrelevant, decades-old photos that you hope will embarrass us. You will say your caucus, and the Speaker and the President are behind you 100%. We hope, perhaps in vain, that they will not allow you to singlehandedly hijack the Congress by unilaterally making this decision for your colleagues, your party, and our country.
You will say it is not our decision to make. But we have made it. Now you have to make yours.
We are prepared to make our case to your 45 committee members, and if need be, more. Importantly, we also will defend ourselves in the public arena and ensure this country knows exactly what you are doing and why you are doing so, instead of helping the American people who need this Congress’s work and protection.
For most people, maybe even the bulk of the Congress, today will be the first they learn of this dispute. We are confident that any reasonable person in or out of Congress will see, based on everything we release, that what you are doing is trying to punish those who you see as your enemies and to protect those you think are your friends.
Continue to mislead Americans about what is truly at stake, and you will learn that Americans are better at finding the truth than you are at burying it.
Continue to pursue autopens instead of penning laws Americans need, and you will learn that you are signing away any remaining chance of being on the right side of history.
Continue to abet the dismantling of America, and you will learn that it takes more than a wrecking ball to demolish what Americans have built over 250 years.
Sincerely,
Bill Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Later, a spokesperson for the Clintons added:
You probably don’t know this because James Comer doesn’t want you to. President and Secretary Clinton swore to the truth under penalty of perjury. James Comer hasn’t told you that and has instead resorted to lying in every appearance he’s made this week.
We are fighting back with facts and accountability.
He is lying with impunity.
FACT: Bill & Hillary Clinton took the extraordinary step of – without being asked – each submitting comprehensive statements to Jim Comer directly in two documents. Each was a sworn legal document listing everything they have to offer. Read what the Clintons said. It’s a lot. And when Comer says it’s not enough, he won’t admit he was given the opportunity to tell us what else he wanted.
TRUTH: Below is what the Democrats on the Committee said today. It’s all worth reading – but the most important part is in bold. The Clintons have provided sworn legal statements (attached), going above and beyond what others Comer excused have done. You can see for yourselves how comprehensive they are, how little the Clintons know, and why there is absolutely no reason for them to appear. We have, from the beginning, over and over, approached this process in a good faith and truthful manner and will continue to do so, no matter the transparent game he is playing.
If you’d like to see any of the letters we’ve sent to Comer, or the sworn declarations provided by the other individuals he’s excused, we’re happy to share those as well. As a comparison, you can see how much more we provided.
Statement read into the record today by Oversight Committee Democrats.
Committee Democrats support cooperation with the Committee and believe that anyone with firsthand knowledge of the crimes of Epstein and Maxwell, or the actions of their co-conspirators, should come forward and provide that information to the Committee. That commitment flows directly from Oversight Democrats’ determination to pursue the truth about the horrific crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell—no matter where the facts lead.
With today’s proceeding, the Majority has relentlessly pursued Secretary Clinton, yet the Majority has taken no steps to enforce the duly issued, bipartisan subpoena for the release of the full Epstein files in the possession of the Department of Justice. Nor has the Majority moved to compel numerous other witnesses with firsthand knowledge of Epstein’s criminal enterprise—including Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell—to appear before this Committee.
Adding to these concerns is President Trump’s direction to his Attorney General, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation—via a Truth Social post—to initiate a criminal investigation into prominent Democrats, including President Clinton, to distract from his own close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. And President Trump likewise has, for years, famously and repeatedly demanded that DOJ investigate and prosecute Secretary Clinton.
President Trump’s targeting of the Clintons is part of a continuing pattern in which President Trump has weaponized the Department of Justice against his perceived political enemies, including, among others, former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and most recently, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
Against that backdrop, Oversight Democrats have grave concerns about the President’s publicly stated expectation that DOJ and the FBI will incriminate leaders of the opposition party, as well as the President’s demonstrated willingness to use the nation’s law enforcement agencies to distract from his own lengthy relationship and interaction with Epstein.
Finally, yesterday the Committee received factual declarations from former President Clinton and Secretary Clinton regarding their interactions with Jeffrey Epstein. I am entering those declarations, both dated January 13, 2026, together as Exhibit A.
Committee Democrats reaffirm that this investigation is not political and not partisan. Its purpose is truth and justice for the victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s horrific crimes.
Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch today announced that New York City remains the safest big city in the country. New 2025 data released by the NYPD and detailed this morning during a press conference show that the city is safer above and below ground, with murders, retail theft, robberies, and subway crime continuing to decline. Shooting incidents and the number of individuals harmed by gunfire also reached record lows last year across the city.
“When I became Governor, I made keeping New Yorkers safe my top priority and tackled crime head-on in New York City and across the state. Since then, I have made unprecedented investments in police and public safety – more than $3 billion – to make New York’s neighborhoods and subways safer,” Governor Hochul said.“Our aggressive approach is paying off: crime has fallen to record lows, making New York a safer place to live, work and visit. I look forward to continuing this work with Mayor Mamdani, Police Commissioner Tisch and the brave men and women of law enforcement who sacrifice so much to ensure New York remains the safest big city in the country.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, “Last year, New York City had its safest year for gun violence ever. This achievement—among many others—is a testament to the leadership of Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the dedication of the NYPD, and the tireless work of community-based organizations that help keep our neighborhoods safe. This work, however, is not done. Together with Police Commissioner Tisch and Governor Kathy Hochul, we will continue to drive down crime—addressing the needs of New Yorkers and working with our officers to deliver public safety.”
“These historic reductions in crime did not happen by chance or accident — they are the direct product of a deliberate, data-driven strategy achieving unprecedented public safety milestones for New York City,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said. “The NYPD drove shooting incidents and shooting victims to the lowest levels in recorded history and delivered the safest year on our subway system, outside of the pandemic era, since 2009. These numbers describe an agency that’s firing on all cylinders: taking down violent gangs, removing thousands of guns off the street, and shattering record-low violent crime numbers. New York City is still the safest big city in the country, thanks to the extraordinary work of the women and men of the NYPD who answer the call every day to protect and serve.”
The following data were compiled by the New York City Police Department as of December 31, 2025.
Record-Lows for Shooting Incidents and Victims, Shattering Previous Records
In 2025, New York City recorded 688 shooting incidents, shattering the previous record low set in 2018 by 10 percent with 66 fewer shootings (688 vs. 754). Compared to 2024, shooting incidents declined 24 percent, a staggering 216 fewer shootings (688 vs. 904). In the fourth quarter of 2025, shooting incidents decreased 36 percent (134 vs. 211) compared to the same period last year. In December, there were only 35 shooting incidents citywide — the fewest shootings ever recorded in any single month in New York City history.
For comparison, Chicago – a city of roughly 3 million people — recorded more than 1,400 shooting incidents last year, more than double New York City’s total, despite having roughly one-third of the population. Philadelphia — less than one-fifth of the size of New York City, with 1.5 million people — recorded more than 825 shooting incidents in 2025.
The number of people shot in New York City also fell 5 percent to a historic low in 2025 with 856 shooting victims citywide, compared to the previous low of 897 reported in 2018. Compared to 2024, shooting victims declined by 22 percent, a stunning 247 fewer people shot (856 vs. 1,103). In the fourth quarter, the number of shooting victims fell by more than 34 percent (161 vs. 246), with December experiencing the lowest victim total ever recorded.
The historic decline reflected a citywide effort, with reductions across all five boroughs in 2025 and Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island each recording the lowest number of shooting incidents in their history. Shooting incidents declined by 38 percent in Manhattan, 26.7 percent in Staten Island, 25.4 percent in the Bronx, 24.4 percent in Queens, and 15 percent in Brooklyn.
The NYPD’s work to remove guns from the streets and take down the most dangerous gangs also helped achieve historic lows in shootings. Last year, officers seized more than 5,293 illegal guns and NYPD detectives carried out 70 gang-related takedowns, getting the most dangerous criminals off the streets and out of our communities.
Reductions in Major Crime Across All Five Boroughs
In addition to addressing gun violence, the NYPD successfully drove down major crime by implementing a data-driven, precision policing strategy that resulted in consistent declines throughout the entire year. The Department deployed an unprecedented number of officers assigned to nightly foot posts to areas with high crime across precincts, public housing, and the subway system. This targeted strategy led to a three percent decline in major crime in 2025 (121,542 vs. 125,026).
Across the city, murders declined by 20.2 percent (305 vs. 382), with 77 fewer murders compared to 2024. In December, there were only 15 murders citywide, down nearly 38 percent from 2024 (15 vs. 24). Alongside those reductions, the NYPD’s Detective Bureau maintained a murder clearance rate of 69 percent in 2025. Murders also decreased in four of the five boroughs. On Staten Island, murders fell by more than 60 percent in 2025, with no murders reported in December. Murders decreased 33 percent in Manhattan, 24 percent in Brooklyn, and 18 percent in the Bronx. In Queens, murders increased seven percent.
Citywide, robberies declined by nearly 10 percent, with 1,600 fewer incidents compared to last year (15,065 vs. 16,696). For the month of December, robberies declined by 15 percent (1,039 vs 1,224). Burglary dropped nearly four percent (12,777 vs. 13,301), marking the third consecutive year of declines. In December, burglary decreased by more than 15 percent (1,017 vs. 1,201) and by 9.9 percent (3,168 vs. 3,518) in the fourth quarter. Auto theft decreased by five percent (13,520 vs. 14,233) citywide in 2025, with a nearly eight percent (3,127 vs. 3,386) drop in the fourth quarter compared to 2024. Grand larceny declined nearly two percent (48,034 vs. 48,963).
In the city’s housing developments, crime declined by 3.6 percent (5,794 vs. 6,009). Hate crimes decreased by 12 percent compared to 2024 (576 vs. 657). Antisemitic incidents were down three percent, but still accounted for 57 percent of all hate crimes reported in 2025, despite Jewish New Yorkers representing approximately 10 percent of the city’s population.
Rape incidents increased by 16 percent (2,049 vs. 1,767). The rise in reported incidents is partly attributed to legislative changes made in September 2024 that importantly broadened the legal definition of rape in New York State to include additional forms of sexual assault.
Domestic-violence-related rapes increased by 25 percent, and now account for roughly half of all reported rape cases citywide. To address this concerning trend, the NYPD launched the Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) in October 2025 — the largest unit of its kind in the nation with 450 fully dedicated domestic violence investigators — to investigate domestic violence cases, build stronger relationships with survivors, and receive enhanced training. The NYPD continues to encourage survivors of sexual assault to come forward and report these incidents.
Felony assault increased slightly: 29,792 vs. 29,684, or 0.4 percent. During the month of December, however, there were 106 fewer felony assault victims compared to the same period in 2024 (2,235 vs. 2,341), a decrease of 4.5 percent citywide. The increase in felony assaults is largely driven by assaults on public sector employees and domestic violence. Assaults on public sector employees, which include police officers, increased by roughly 25 percent in 2025. Domestic violence incidents accounted for 41 percent of recorded felony assaults. To address this issue directly, the Domestic Violence Unit will continue its work with providers and survivors to prevent and investigate domestic violence incidents.
Safest Year on the Subways in 16 Years, Excluding the Pandemic Years
Below ground, the NYPD delivered the safest year on the subways since 2009, excluding the pandemic years. For six consecutive months, major crime on the subways declined, contributing to a four percent reduction in 2025 (2,160 vs. 2,251). Officers recovered an all-time high of 77 firearms, which helped drive a reduction in shooting incidents from eight to three as well as a reduction in shooting victims from 14 to three. This decline in violence also contributed to a drop in murders in the subway system, which reached their lowest levels in five years and declined by 60 percent (four vs. 10) from 2024.
Transit robberies reached their lowest levels ever, including the pandemic years, and fell 12.5 percent (398 vs. 455), compared to last year. Grand larceny pickpocketing within the subways declined to its lowest level outside of the pandemic years, down nearly 44 percent (122 vs. 217), compared to last year.
In January, the NYPD strategically shifted officers onto trains and platforms where the vast majority of transit crime — 73 percent in 2025 — occurs. Governor Hochul secured $77 million in the current state budget to support this effort and has committed to funding an additional $77 million for enhanced patrols in her FY 27 Executive Budget proposal. This additional funding and targeted deployment has led to a more secure, orderly transit system. New Yorkers are feeling the results: a recent MTA poll revealed that seven out of ten subway riders say they feel safe in the transit system, an increase of 12 percent from the start of 2025. Finally, the NYPD continues to deploy drones to monitor, respond to, and intervene in subway surfing incidents. Drones enabled 163 rescues and overall subway surfing incidents declined 37 percent (11 vs. 16) compared to 2024.
Addressing Retail Theft
In addition to these historic declines the NYPD’s revamped strategy on retail theft led to a 14 percent (52,696 vs. 61,328) decline in retail theft citywide compared to 2024. Last year, the NYPD developed and executed a new strategy to respond to retail theft, a recidivist-driven crime, including identifying the patterns driving retail theft, concentrating resources at high-propensity locations during peak hours, and shifting from pass-through enforcement to sustained investigation.
New Legislation Will Help Protect Kids from Predators, Scammers and Harmful AI Chatbots on Online Platforms
New York Will Lead the Nation in Teen Mental Health First Aid Training
Expands Resources To Allow Every Tenth Grader to Be Trained in Teen Mental Health First Aid, Empowering Kids to Support Their Peers
Builds on Governor’s Nation-Leading Work To Ban Smartphones in Schools, Enact Social Media Warning Labels and Restrict Addictive Feeds, Create Safeguards Against Harmful AI Companions, and Open More than 1,300 School-Based Mental Health Clinics
Governor Kathy Hochul today unveiled her first State of the State proposals, which will continue to build on her progress to keep New York’s kids safe online and combat the youth mental health crisis statewide. The new legislation will help protect children from online predators, scammers and harmful AI chatbots integrated on online platforms. Additionally, the Governor is proposing a first-of-its-kind, statewide expansion of Teen Mental Health First Aid training, designed to give young people the tools to identify, understand, and effectively respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse challenges among their friends and peers. These proposals build on Governor Hochul’s nation-leading work to ban smartphones in schools, enact social media warning labels, restrict addictive feeds, and create safeguards against harmful AI companions. Governor Hochul’s focus on youth mental health also led to the creation of more school-based mental health clinics, community-based treatment options, and peer-based supports for youth and adults.
“As New York’s first mom Governor, the well-being and safety of our children has always been one of my top priorities, and today we are continuing to break new ground to give our kids the tools and safeguards they need to contend with the unprecedented mental health challenges and real world dangers that can sometimes be a byproduct of navigating today’s digital world,” Governor Hochul said.“These proposals will create a nation-leading standard that will ensure our kids’ safety in online and real world environments where they spend time.”
New Protections for Kids on Online Platforms
Numerous lawsuits and investigations have alleged that online platforms have not taken appropriate steps to protect the children using them. These online platforms allow children and adults to contact each other worldwide — which leaves children susceptible to grooming, child abuse, and exposure to violent and inappropriate content, including suicide.
The Governor’s proposed legislative package to keep kids safe from emerging threats on social media and online gaming platforms will include:
Expanding Age Verification: Expanding requirements for platforms to conduct age verification, including online game platforms.
Privacy by Default: Kids will be set to the highest privacy settings on covered platforms by default, meaning non-connections cannot message kids, view their profile, or tag them in content. Location settings will be turned off by default, and children under 13 must receive parental approval for new connections.
Disabling AI Chatbot Features: Disabling certain AI chatbot features on social media platforms for kids.
Parental Controls: Parents must be able to set limits on children’s financial transactions.
This package draws on existing legislation sponsored by State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Nily Rozic.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said, “Online platforms like Roblox are enabling unsafe environments for children, including allowing predators to send explicit messages to children. We urgently need to pass crucial online safety protections to stop predators from exploiting children and create safer online environments for children to play. I am proud to continue working with Governor Hochul, Senator Gounardes, and Assemblymember Rozic to push for nation-leading legislation that will protect children and families online.”
Senator Andrew Gounardes said,“It’s a grim reality of the modern internet: the online platforms where our kids spend so much time are failing to protect them from predators. From toys to food to cars, we regulate all sorts of products to keep children safe. There’s no reason platforms like Roblox should be different. This proposal sends a clear message that New York will always prioritize our kids’ safety over Big Tech’s profits. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul for her partnership on this important proposal.”
“Protecting kids online means more than limiting harm. It means empowering them with knowledge, skills, and resources,” Assemblymember Nily Rozic said. “This legislation responds directly to the concerns parents like me have raised about harmful and addictive online design, and it gives us the tools to hold companies accountable. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul for listening to parents across our state and taking decisive action to protect our kids’ mental health and well-being.”
Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer said, “Common Sense Media applauds Governor Hochul’s inclusion of these important new children’s online safety protections in her State of the State proposal and we thank Senator Gounardes and Assemblymember Rozic for their leadership on this issue. The online games kids play and the social media platforms they use for hours and hours a day have become veritable hunting grounds for predators. Kids and teens need these new protections now more than ever.”
“These common-sense proposals by Governor Hochul will better safeguard New York’s youth from the harms of addictive and manipulative tech, and help put an end to the ongoing national emergency in child and adolescent mental health,” Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA) Founder and Executive Director Julie Scelfo said. :The parents of the MAMA movement are grateful for the Governor’s continued national leadership on this issue, and we look forward to working with her and with the State Legislature to enact policies that protect our kids.”
Expanding Youth Mental Health Training For 180,000 Teens
Governor Hochul will propose to make Teen Mental Health First Aid training available to all 10th graders across New York State. New York would phase in a commitment to make training available to more than 180,000 students annually, ensuring that over time most high school students will have the basic skills to support themselves and each other.
When teens experience mental health and substance use challenges, often their first resort is to talk to their peers. Likewise, friends are often best positioned to identify and empathize with stressors that may be acting on fellow students. Research demonstrates that with training, young people have the capacity to both identify and effectively respond to mental health challenges in ways that can improve and even save lives.
This training is designed for young people between the ages 15 and 18 so they can identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in their friends and peers. It equips them with skills to recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges; the impact of bullying and school violence on mental health; how to have impactful conversations with classmates about mental health concerns or to seek help from an adult; formal and informal support, and self-care.
As part of this initiative, the State will also offer new Youth Mental Health First Aid training for adults who regularly interact with youth in schools and community programs. This nationally-recognized curriculum introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations.
New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “In our discussions with young people about mental health issues, one consistent thread became clear — youth reach out to their peers when they are in distress. Teen Mental Health First Aid helps young New Yorkers talk with their classmates and friends about mental health issues and provides them with the know-how to get them help when it is needed. By expanding this program, Governor Hochul is continuing her steadfast commitment to improving youth mental health and providing our young people with the skills they can rely on to live and thrive among the challenges they face today.”
President and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing Chuck Ingoglia and Vice President of Mental Health First Aid Tramaine EL-Amin said, “This announcement represents a historic and transformative investment in youth mental health. We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for her bold leadership and unwavering commitment to the mental wellbeing of New York’s students. By expanding teen Mental Health First Aid to reach all 10th graders statewide, New York is setting a powerful national standard — normalizing conversations about mental health, reducing stigma and equipping an entire generation with critical, potentially lifesaving skills. The National Council is proud to partner in this effort and remains fully committed to supporting schools, educators, parents and communities as this landmark initiative moves forward.”
This State of the State proposal builds on Governor Hochul’s ongoing efforts to address the youth mental health crisis statewide and help keep kids safe online. This work has established New York as a global leader in securing a safer online world for children. Initiatives include:
The SAFE for Kids Act, which restricts addictive features of social media for kids, and establishes important national precedent about age verification.
The Child Data Protection Act that prevents online operators from collecting and monetizing children’s data without informed consent.
AI Companion legislation which set first-in-the-nation safeguards, diverting user conversations about self-harm to mental health resources and interrupting unhealthy addictive behaviors. The Governor also outlawed AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material.
The Unplug and Play Agenda which helps encourage the healthy socialization and child development by funding social infrastructure, physical sites like playgrounds, community centers, and pools, and expanded youth programming.
New York’s Distraction Free Learning Policy which is already resulting in greater academic achievement, improved student wellbeing, and safer school environments for students.
The recently signed Warning Labels bill that will require social media companies post warnings about the platform’s potential impact on mental health.
Governor Hochul’s nation-leading $1 billion mental health initiative and hundreds of millions of dollars in funding in subsequent budgets is significantly expanding access to care for young people and their families –from increasing inpatient and residential treatment capacity to building community-based services designed to help youth remain at home and in their community.
Governor Hochul also expanded school-based mental health clinics, which help students get a licensed mental health care provider in a familiar stigma-free setting on their school campus. The state now supports 1,300 clinic satellites, up from 872 in 2020, covering 25 percent of all NYS public schools.
Governor Hochul’s focus on youth mental health also led to the creation of new Youth Assertive Community Treatment teams to support young people with serious emotional disturbances who are either at risk of entering, or are returning home from high intensity services, such as inpatient settings or residential services. New York funds 42 new Youth ACT teams — 23 now operational — in 31 counties, providing youth and family therapy, medication management, family and peer support, and skill-building.
There are also now 65 Home Based Crisis Intervention Teams – including 60 that are now accepting referrals – which serve youth between the ages of 5 and 20 and provide intensive individualized services to help families support young people recovering from mental illness in their own homes.
Governor Hochul also established the Youth Mental Health Advisory Board, a 30-member advisory board which includes youth between the ages of 11 and 17. The advisory board convenes quarterly and is designed to ensure that youth-informed best practices continue to be incorporated in developing behavioral health programs and policies.
Governor Hochul also expanded Youth Safe Spaces programs, which provide a place for young people between the ages of 12 and 24 to access behavioral health and wellness resources, foster positive relationships with their peers, and receive support in a comfortable setting. To support the initiative developed with input from the Governor’s Youth Mental Health Advisory Board, the Office of Mental Health awarded $7.5 million to establish four sites this fall and is soliciting proposals for additional locations to be awarded early next year.
27 Million Fewer Vehicles Entered the Congestion Relief Zone, Traffic Down 11%; Crossing Speeds Up by as Much as 51%; Transit Ridership Up 7%
Congestion Pricing Delivers Cleaner Air and Safer Streets: Pollution Down 22% in the Zone and Down Throughout Region; Crashes Down 7% and Traffic Injuries Down 8%
Manhattan Economy is Thriving: Best Year for Office Leasing in 23 Years; Foot Traffic Up From 2024; Sales Tax Receipts up Over 6%
$15 Billion in Funding Unlocked to Advance Critical Transit Improvements Including New Railcars, Signal Upgrades and the Second Avenue Subway
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that on its one-year anniversary, New York City’s first-in-the-nation congestion pricing program has been a transformational success, reducing traffic, improving quality of life and supporting billions in transit upgrades. In its first year, congestion pricing resulted in 27 million fewer vehicles entering the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ) of Manhattan south of 60th St, an 11 percent reduction in traffic. Reduced gridlock has improved commute times across the region, especially at crossings into the CRZ, with some drivers saving as much as 15 minutes each way. Congestion pricing has reduced emissions, made streets safer, improved quality of life, and has generated over $550 million in net revenue in its first year, allowing the MTA to proceed with $15 billion in transit improvement projects. Governor Hochul has also stood strong to defend congestion pricing from unlawful federal efforts to terminate the program. One year in, congestion pricing is working and it is legal.
“The results are in and it is clear that in just one year, congestion pricing has been an unprecedented success in New York,”Governor Hochul said. “By every measure, this program has met or exceeded expectations: traffic and gridlock are down substantially, people are moving faster, air quality is improved, streets are safer and our economy is stronger. New Yorkers are benefitting from congestion pricing every day, and that’s why we have fought to stop any unlawful federal attempt to end this program. And there are even more benefits to come: $15 billion in transit upgrades with major projects already underway, improving the commutes of millions of New Yorkers.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, “As we mark the one-year anniversary of congestion pricing going into effect, its benefits are clearer than ever. Traffic crashes and noise complaints are dropping, while funding for the MTA and air quality are rising. Working New Yorkers deserve less congestion, a well-funded transit system, and a safer and quieter place to call home, and I’m proud to see congestion pricing deliver on that promise.”
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “I want to thank all who worked on this program over the years. The congestion pricing experience demonstrates what the new MTA can accomplish working with our State and City partners. The result here is flawless execution and unprecedented benefits for all New Yorkers.”
New York State and the MTA have successfully fought off repeated legal challenges to congestion pricing and have stood up to block the unlawful attempts of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Trump Administration to terminate the program. In May, a preliminary injunction was issued in the case of Metropolitan Transportation Authority v. Duffy, keeping congestion pricing in effect pending further court proceedings and enjoining the federal government from taking retaliatory measures in response.
Since congestion pricing commenced at 12:00 am on January 5, 2025, it has delivered a wide array of benefits according to data from the MTA and other reports from business groups, government agencies and academic institutions.
Congestion Pricing Has Reduced Gridlock
Following the launch of congestion pricing, over 27 million fewer cars have entered the CRZ. On any given day, over 73,000 fewer vehicles are entering the zone, an 11 percent reduction on average. Crossings entering and exiting the CRZ experienced especially pronounced speed improvements, with morning rush hour traffic speeds up an average of 23 percent.
Brooklyn Bridge: 15 percent faster
Holland Tunnel: 51 percent faster
Hugh L Carey Tunnel: 10.8 percent faster
Lincoln Tunnel: 24.7 percent faster
Manhattan Bridge: 6.7 percent faster
Queensboro Bridge: 29.3 percent faster
Queens-Midtown Tunnel: 18.4 percent faster
Williamsburg Bridge: 28.3 percent faster
Reduced gridlock is speeding up trips for motorists and transit riders. Within the CRZ, bus speeds increased 2.3 percent, reversing the trend of declining speeds seen in 2023 and 2024. Weekday vehicle speeds in the CRZ were up 4 percent compared to 2024, with weekends seeing a 6.2 percent improvement. Deliveries and the movement of goods in the CRZ are also being completed faster, with truck speeds up 5.6 percent compared to 2024.
The amount of driving done in the CRZ has declined as well, with the total Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) down by 7.1 percent. The share of personal vehicles like cars, pickup trucks and vans entering the CRZ has declined by six percentage points since the launch of congestion pricing.
Congestion pricing has also yielded benefits outside of the CRZ, including in previously identified Environmental Justice Communities. The BQE saw a 5 percent reduction in total traffic and a 10.2 percent reduction in truck traffic. The Cross Bronx Expressway saw total traffic decline by 7.4 percent and truck traffic drop by 4.3 percent. The Major Deegan Expressway in Mott Haven experienced a total traffic reduction of 7.1 percent, with truck traffic down 9.2 percent.
Roads approaching the CRZ are moving faster as well: sections of Flatbush Ave approaching the Manhattan Bridge saw speed increases of 6 percent, I-495 in New Jersey has experienced a 15 percent speed increase approaching the Lincoln Tunnel, and the Gowanus Expressway saw a 7 percent improvement between the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel.
New York City’s Economy is Thriving
The launch of congestion pricing has coincided with a booming Manhattan economy. On metrics ranging from office leasing rates to Broadway ticket sales, 2025 saw business up in the CRZ and in New York City as a whole.
Manhattan’s office economy is thriving. In July of 2025, New York City became the first major American city to exceed pre-pandemic office traffic, according to data from placer.ai. Office leasing has surged in 2025: according to a recent report from Colliers, office leasing activity in Q3 2025 was up 9.2 percent year over year, exceeding pre-pandemic levels and on track for the highest volume of new office leases since 2002. There are one percentage point fewer vacant storefronts in the CRZ in the year since the program launched, according to NYC Economic Development Corporation data. Jobs increased as well, with NYS Department of Labor statistics showing private sector employment in New York City up 2.0 percent in August, more than double the national rate of 0.9 percent.
Economic activity has increased both in the CRZ and across New York City. Data from the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance shows that sales tax receipts were up 6.3 percent in New York City in 2025 through November, exceeding the state’s average, three times higher than neighboring Westchester County and more than six times higher than neighboring Nassau county. In 2025, Broadway had its best season in history, with $1.9 billion in ticket sales, up 23 percent from the previous season. Restaurant reservations and retail sales were also up in the CRZ, according to industry reports.
More people are entering the CRZ to work and visit since the launch of congestion pricing. Foot traffic increased by 3.4 percent in the zone, compared to a boroughwide increase of 1.4 percent. Transit ridership also rose entering and within the CRZ; according to MTA data, subway trips entering the zone increased by 9 percent, with express bus trips up 7.8 percent and local bus trips up 8.4 percent.
Congestion Pricing Has Improved Quality of Life
Congestion pricing has produced benefits that extend far beyond reduced traffic and faster trips; it has yielded transformative benefits to the quality of life of New Yorkers.
Preliminary data has shown improved air quality since congestion pricing launched. A recent study from Cornell University found that air pollution, in the form of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and smaller, dropped by 22 percent in the CRZ, with reductions seen across the five boroughs and surrounding suburbs. MTA data also found a 6.1 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within the zone through Q3 of 2025. Reduced gridlock is also driving down noise pollution. According to 311 data, vehicle noise complaints for issues like horn honking decreased in the CRZ by 17 percent compared to 2024.
Reduced traffic has corresponded with a record year for street safety in New York City. Crashes within the CRZ declined by 7 percent, with traffic injuries down 8 percent. Traffic fatalities were down by 40 percent in the CRZ as of July, according to data from the NYPD. Citywide, 2025 saw the fewest traffic deaths in recorded history, with fatalities down 19 percent from 2024. Safety was improved for motorists, pedestrians, and the cyclists who take 600,000 trips each day: pedestrian fatalities were down 9 percent, and cyclist fatalities on New York City’s streets decreased to 20, compared to 23 in 2024.
Critical Transit Improvement Projects are Underway
Congestion pricing has consistently met monthly revenue targets needed to generate the projected $500 million in annual net revenue. As of November 2025, $518 million in net tolling revenue has been collected and allocated to support transit improvements and mitigation initiatives, with preliminary projections for year-end exceeding $550 million in net revenues.
Overall, the program allows the MTA to proceed with $15 billion in funding for the 2020-2024 Capital Plan, advancing projects to rebuild, improve and expand the transit system. A third of that funding is dedicated towards performing critical state of good repair work to ensure the continued reliability of the transit system.
Projects funded by congestion pricing include:
Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 ($3B)
Signal upgrades along the AC and BDFM lines ($3B)
Accessibility improvements to 23+ subway stations ($2B)
New railcars and buses ($2B)
State of Good Repair projects ($5B)
As of January 1, 2026, more than $6 billion in projects unlocked by Congestion Relief are in construction, including Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, ADA upgrades at nine stations, new signals serving more than 600,000 A/C riders in Brooklyn and Queens, and systemwide state of good repair work.
Mitigation Initiative Progress
The MTA and its project sponsors continue to deliver on the mitigation and monitoring commitments outlined in the Final Environmental Assessment (EA). The MTA and sponsors committed to $125 million in total mitigations across eight initiatives, with every initiative now in progress. Final implementation has now begun for three mitigations:
Expand NYC Clean Trucks Program ($20M): Implementation has begun. NYC DOT will begin accepting new applications for rebate incentives by the spring.
Expand NYC DOT Off-Hours Delivery Program ($5M): Implementation is in progress. In partnership with NYC DOT to improve safety and reduce daytime truck traffic, NYC DOT will begin onboarding new participants in Q1 2026.
Replacement of Truck Refrigeration Units (TRUs) at Hunts Point Market ($15M): Implementation is in progress. Replacing up to 1,000 TRUs will result in major nitrogen oxide and particulate matter reductions — replacement of a single TRU avoids the equivalent of particulate-matter emissions from 330 truck trips a day on the Cross Bronx Expressway. The first unit was delivered in December 2025.
New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn said, “In just congestion pricing’s first year, we’ve seen fewer vehicles entering Manhattan’s central business district, cleaner air, safer streets, and more people choosing to bike, walk, and take mass transit. All New Yorkers are benefiting, with new investments in mass transit and other projects that make it easier to get around without a car. Congestion pricing is a reminder that when you dare to be bold, you can achieve big things. That is why NYC DOT will lead with ambition and innovation—determined not just to make our streets better, but to make them the envy of the world. I thank the Governor and the MTA for their leadership, as well as the NYC DOT staff who are working every day to support this invaluable program.”
Representative Jerry Nadler said, “The bottom line is this: One year later congestion pricing is making New York better. We know it works. It’s cut down on traffic, and commuting times into the city are dramatically faster. Less traffic brings faster emergency response times, cleaner air, and safer streets—all while funding MTA accessibility improvements and transit extensions like the Second Avenue Subway that rely on the revenue congestion pricing generates. So I say this to anyone who tries to derail congestion pricing: get out of the way. This train is staying on the tracks. Congestion pricing will continue. We will fund the MTA. And we will protect the rights of New Yorkers to make decisions about their own city.”
Representative Dan Goldman said, “The results of the first year of Congestion Pricing in Lower Manhattan are clear: reduced congestion, fewer traffic accidents, cleaner air, increased foot traffic, and new revenue that will be used to improve the nation’s largest public transportation system that services the vast majority of New York City commuters. I’m looking forward to continuing to work alongside Governor Hochul and the MTA to make sure our commuters, our city and our environment continue to reap the benefits of this vitally important policy.”
State Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “Congestion pricing is working for New York City. One year after implementation, we are already seeing the benefits of safer streets, cleaner air, and a better funded transportation system. These benefits improve the quality of life for working class New Yorkers across the five boroughs and regions. I commend Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani, and MTA Chair Lieber on their commitment to congestion pricing and defending this vital program from attacks from the Trump administration.”
Assemblymember Tony Simone said, “Fighting for the working class is never easy, but always worth it. We are one year in, and Congestion Pricing is already delivering results far beyond expectation. For the millions of New Yorkers who rely on transit, we have invested billions into expansion and improvement. For New Yorkers who choose to drive, traffic is down and speeds are up. And for my constituents who live in the zone, noise is down, pollution is down, and business is up. Congestion Pricing has quickly proven to be one of the single most effective public policy measures in history.”
Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick said, “The first year of the congestion pricing program has delivered to the MTA more resources than anticipated to support critical capital improvements to our essential transit system. I’m heartened to see this strong foundation that will enable the MTA to make desperately needed upgrades to our transit system, upon which millions of New Yorkers rely. It’s also great to see reduced traffic, improved commute times, and a reduction in air pollution throughout the Congestion Relief Zone.”
Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal said, “The cumulative impacts of congestion pricing cannot be overstated as we confront the realities of climate change. The Legislature understood the immense benefits that such a policy would have on the Big Apple when we originally passed it back in 2019 – and that foresight is certainly paying off. In just one year, Midtown is being released from gridlock, noise complaints are down, traffic-related incidents are becoming less frequent and the MTA is using the fees to make much-needed repairs to our transportation system. That is why we must remain steadfast in our commitment to this policy and continue rejecting any federal overtures to end this transformative program.”
New York City Comptroller Mark Levine said, “After just one year, congestion pricing has proven to be a resounding victory for transit riders, our communities, and the city. Despite the early hand-wringing, congestion pricing has stimulated economic activity across our restaurants, storefronts, and cultural hubs, all while generating millions for the MTA. By standing up to the Trump administration, Governor Hochul has ensured New York can invest in subway accessibility, reduce traffic and crashes, improve air quality, and deliver a reliable transportation system for generations to come.”
New York City Councilmember Gale Brewer said, “One year in, congestion pricing has proven to be exactly what New York needed. It’s been incredibly effective at reducing car trips, easing gridlock, and expanding subway and bus usage, while also delivering cleaner air and safer streets. The data shows that fewer vehicles are entering Manhattan, transit ridership is up, and our economy continues to thrive — all at the same time. This program is working. I look forward to the report that NYC DOT is producing with recommendations for the future so we can build on this success and ensure congestion pricing continues to benefit New Yorkers across the city and the region.”
New York City Councilmember Harvey Epstein said, “After one year, it is clear that congestion pricing is delivering real benefits for everyday New Yorkers. We’re seeing less traffic and noise, cleaner air, and faster, more reliable transit, creating a safer, greener, more efficient city for everyone.”
New York City Councilmember Erik Bottcher said, “After one year, congestion pricing has proven what so many New Yorkers believed all along: when we put people first, our city works better. We are seeing fewer cars, cleaner air, safer streets, and faster commutes, while unlocking billions of dollars to modernize and expand our transit system. This is a win for working New Yorkers, for our environment, and for the long-term health of our economy. I commend Governor Hochul for standing strong and defending this program, because the data is clear—congestion pricing is working, and New York City is better because of it.”
New York City Councilmember Virginia Maloney said, “Traffic has always been a headache for New Yorkers, especially here in the heart of Manhattan. One year later, congestion pricing has delivered on its two main goals: cutting down on gridlock and raising much-needed funding for mass transit. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the City Council and in Albany to make sure the Congestion Pricing Program continues to deliver results and works for all New Yorkers.”
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, “Again and again, congestion pricing works. One year in, with traffic down 11 percent and over half a billion dollars in substantial new revenue for the MTA raised, the program is proving exactly why bold, smart policy matters. New Yorkers are feeling the benefits of fewer cars, faster commutes, cleaner air, and safer streets every day. Thank you to Governor Hochul for her continued leadership standing up for this critical program and New Yorkers.”
Roosevelt House at Hunter College Transportation Research Program Chair Samuel I. Schwartz (Gridlock Sam) said, “I’ve been wrestling with NYC traffic for nearly 60 years having started as a cabdriver circa 1967 and 15 years later as traffic commissioner. I’ve seen avenues converted to one-way, traffic signals retimed, several thousand traffic agents hired but I never saw a program as effective as congestion pricing in improving traffic flow and safety. Kudos to the governor and the MTA for a near flawless roll-out.”
Environmental Defense Fund Senior Advisor Andy Darrell said, “One year in, congestion pricing has delivered on its promise of cleaner air, safer streets, and a healthier city. Fewer cars mean less pollution, faster buses, and cleaner air for communities citywide. And the program is strengthening New York’s economy by funding transit improvements that keep New York City affordable for millions of people every day and supporting good jobs across the state. New York has set a national example for how environmental leadership can drive economic opportunity and improve quality of life.”
Regional Plan Association President and CEO Tom Wright said, “By every measure we have data for, the nation’s first-ever congestion pricing program has delivered positive results for commuters and residents both in New York City and across the tri-state metropolitan region. Residents, businesses, and commuters are enjoying cleaner air, faster travel with less delays, and improved transit. New York’s congestion pricing program has proven to be a wildly successful proof of concept for policy interventions that improve quality of life in every community it touches. Thank you Governor Hochul for leading the way.”
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) New York City Environment Director Eric A. Goldstein said, “The success to date of New York’s congestion pricing program is no accident. It took years of planning and analysis, public engagement, and attention to detail. But on the program’s one year anniversary, the results are clear – reduced congestion, faster commutes, reduced pollution, and enhancements to the region’s irreplaceable transit network that moves millions of commuters every day. Bravo to Governor Kathy Hochul, MTA Chair Janno Lieber, and their staff for the accomplishments to date and the progress yet to come from implementation of this landmark transportation strategy.”
StreetsPAC Executive Director Eric McClure said, “New York City’s congestion pricing program has been an unequivocal success and has delivered on all of its promises – reduced traffic volumes, improved travel times, cleaner air, critical revenue for the transit system – and then some, like fewer crashes and increased pedestrian and retail activity. We should have implemented it decades ago, but we’re grateful to be celebrating its first anniversary. Congratulations to everyone responsible for making it happen.”
New York Building Congress President & CEO Carlo A. Scissura said, “One year in, New York’s congestion relief program has shown that when we invest in moving people better, we move the entire region forward. In just 12 months, the program has started to generate the reliable funding needed to modernize our aging transit system and help keep the city flowing. We’re already seeing accelerated repair work, progress on long-planned infrastructure projects, and new economic activity across the state, including in upstate communities that build the railcars and equipment that power our system. This first year has proved that smart policy can reduce gridlock and air pollution, and lay the foundation for a stronger, greener, more connected New York.”
Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC) Executive Director Lisa Daglian said, “By every measure imaginable, the congestion relief program has exceeded expectations in its first year, benefiting transit riders and drivers alike while breaking the gridlock that has choked our city and region. As longtime advocates for this program, we could not be prouder of its enormous successes, even as we continue to defend it from its misguided detractors. We celebrate today’s anniversary milestone because it is a win for all New Yorkers, and thank Governor Hochul, MTA leadership, and the many people who had the political courage to implement this historic and transformative program.”
CIVITAS Executive Director Sharon Pope-Marshall said, “New York City’s Congestion Pricing Program has yielded undeniable benefits, particularly significant reductions in traffic volume, particulate pollution, motor vehicle crashes, traffic-related injuries, and noise. Data also shows that traffic is down outside of the congestion relief zone. The Program generated $500 million in substantial new revenue for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. This vital funding stream will help advance transit infrastructure and other transit-related projects across the city. Investment in public transit reinforces a core tenet of urban planning: efficient and accessible transportation is an essential link to support thriving, sustainable, and resilient urban neighborhoods.”
Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) President James Whelan said, “Congestion pricing has delivered tangible benefits for the people of New York City — decreased traffic, improved air quality, and a critical revenue stream for important transit improvements. We commend Governor Hochul for her ongoing commitment to this program, and we expect to see even greater benefits from congestion pricing in the years to come.”
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest Disability Justice Program Managing Attorney Christopher Schuyler said, “Congestion pricing benefits all New Yorkers, particularly people with disabilities. Congestion pricing funds subway accessibility improvement projects, reduces traffic so that people who use Access-A-Ride and emergency vehicles can get to where they are going faster, makes the roads and crosswalks safer for all pedestrians including people who use wheelchairs – a group disproportionately harmed by traffic related-incidents, and reduces emissions in the zone thereby improving air quality. One year in, the data proves that congestion pricing is a resounding success for all New Yorkers!”
Tri-State Transportation Campaign Executive Director Renae Reynolds said, “One year in, we can finally settle the debate: congestion pricing was the right move not just for New York City but for the entire region and the people who call it home. Traffic is down, streets are safer, crashes and noise complaints have dropped, truck traffic is easing, and we can breathe cleaner air. We’re seeing long overdue subway improvements, the establishment of an asthma case management program in the Bronx, and more visitors enjoying what the city has to offer, proof that this world-class city is building the world-class transportation system we imagined, with even better days ahead.”
Evergreen Action Senior Transportation Policy Lead Liya Rechtman said, “One year of congestion pricing in New York has been an unmitigated success for commuters and the climate. We are thrilled that New Yorkers are sitting in less traffic, breathing cleaner air, and investing in long awaited public transit upgrades. And we are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul and leaders in this state for holding the line in the face of ongoing spurious attacks from the Trump administration. Congestion pricing is here to stay and we’re excited for New Yorkers to continue reaping the benefits.”
New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe said, “One year in, congestion pricing is delivering what New Yorkers were promised. Traffic is down 11 percent. Travel times are faster and more reliable. Bus, train, and subway ridership are up, and the MTA is investing $15 billion to modernize the system and deliver more frequent, reliable service. At its core, congestion pricing reflects a simple truth: we can’t drive our way out of the climate crisis. By reducing the number of cars on the road, it’s cutting congestion while strengthening the transit system millions of New Yorkers rely on. It takes bold leadership to advance policies that improve our communities and daily lives — especially when they aren’t universally popular at the start. That’s exactly what Governor Hochul showed by moving congestion pricing forward to deliver real results for New Yorkers.”
Riders Alliance Policy & Communications Director Danny Pearlstein said, “Public transit riders organized and won congestion relief, which has now survived infancy and shows great promise at the start of year two. America’s slowest buses are moving faster. New revenue is improving subway service and upgrading stations. New York’s air quality is getting better. Of the entire parade of horribles that the program’s opponents threatened, just one has come true: Success has once again proven the worth of government action and emboldened everyday New Yorkers to continue to tackle persistent challenges together.”
Hudson Square Business Improvement District President & CEO Samara Karasyk said, “At the doorstep of the Holland Tunnel, Hudson Square is seeing firsthand how effective congestion pricing can be. With fewer cars on our streets and dramatically faster tunnel crossings, the neighborhood feels calmer, safer, and more welcoming. Pedestrian activity has risen by nearly 20 percent year over year, and we’re seeing the benefits in improved air quality, reduced horn honking, and growing momentum in our retail and commercial spaces. For the Hudson Square community, congestion pricing is helping create a healthier, more vibrant environment where people, not traffic, take priority.”
With the new tax year beginning January 1, 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul is informing New Yorkers about a number of tax relief and affordability measures that will begin in the New Year. The Governor is also announcing that in her upcoming FY2027 Executive Budget proposal, she will put forth legislation that eliminates state income taxes on up to $25,000 of tipped income in tax year 2026, which follows federal guidance. This effort is a continuation of the Governor’s Affordability Agenda. Since taking office, the Governor has advanced policies that have put over $9 billion back in the pockets of New York households through tax relief efforts.
“As we welcome in the New Year, affordability remains my top priority and I am doubling down on my commitment to put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets,” Governor Hochul said.“Starting today, tax rates for the vast majority of lower and middle-class New Yorkers will be cut, families with children will see a sweeping increase in the child tax credit, and minimum wage workers across the state will see their wages go up. I’m kicking the new year off with a proposal of no state income tax on tips, continuing my efforts to make New York more affordable for hard working New Yorkers.”
Over the last 5 years, the costs on everyday essentials like groceries, insurance, utility bills, and goods and services has increased significantly, and Governor Hochul has heard directly from New Yorkers how difficult it can be to make ends meet. As a result, the Governor created her Affordability Agenda, which has delivered over $9 billion in tax relief to New York’s individuals and families since taking office. This most recent proposal of No Tax on Tips, is the latest in a series of efforts to put money back in New Yorkers pockets.
Middle Class Tax Cuts
In the FY 2026 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul secured a middle class tax cut, which, beginning January 1, 2026, will deliver nearly $1 billion in tax relief to more than 8.3 million New Yorkers. This will provide savings to taxpayers earning up to $323,000 for joint filers. When fully phased in, the middle class tax cut will deliver hundreds of dollars in average savings to nearly 77 percent of filers — representing three out of every four taxpayers.
Sweeping Increase in Child Tax Credit
In the FY2026 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul continued her efforts to expand New York’s child tax credit, providing critical financial support for more than 2.75 million children statewide. This latest expansion doubled or in many cases, tripled the current credit, offering up to $1,000 annually per child under four and up to $500 per child aged four to 16. This latest expansion marked the largest increase in the credit’s history, significantly surpassing the previous maximum of $330 per child. The expansion will be phased in over two years, with New Yorkers receiving expanded benefits starting in 2026 for children under four and extending to older children in 2027.
Increasing the Minimum Wage
Included in the FY2024 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul created a transformative plan to help low-wage New Yorkers keep up with the rising costs of living by increasing New York’s minimum wage for three years and tying future increases to inflation. Beginning January 1, 2026, New York State’s minimum wage increased to $17.00 per hour in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, and $16.00 per hour in the rest of the state. Starting in 2027, the minimum wage will increase annually at a rate determined by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earned and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Northeast Region — the most accurate regional measure of inflation.
Governor Hochul’s Affordability Agenda
This announcement builds on Governor Hochul’s Affordability Agenda which delivered a $2B Inflation Refund program, delivering up to $400 to over 8.2 billion New Yorkers, and universal free school meals, saving parents and families up to $1,600 a year.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced $10 million will be made available for the second round of the Municipal Parks and Recreation (MPR) Grant Program to fund the development and improvement of municipal parks and recreation sites statewide for the public to enjoy. Funding for this program comes from the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.
“This second round of Municipal Parks and Recreation Grant funding will help improve the state’s social infrastructure to encourage New Yorkers to disconnect from their digital devices and reconnect with the outdoors,” Governor Hochul said. “Expanding access to quality parks and recreational facilities makes our communities healthier and ensures children have places to play, learn, and grow in a safe and engaging environment.”
The MPR grant funding is available for the construction of recreational facilities and other improvements to municipally owned recreational sites and parks. Examples include playgrounds, courts, playing fields, and facilities for swimming, biking, boating, picnicking, hiking, fishing, camping, or other recreational activities. Program guidelines, including how to apply, will be available beginning December 31, 2025, on the State Parks website. The first round of the MPR grant program awarded $10 million to 17 projects across the state.
Eligible applicants include counties, cities, towns and villages within New York State that own the property where the proposed project will take place. Grants will primarily fund construction costs. Preconstruction activities, such as developing plans and design specifications, may be included in the project budget, but the grant cannot fund projects that are solely for planning and design without a construction component.
To maximize accessibility to funding, the MPR grant opportunity can fund up to 90 percent of the total eligible project costs, with a matching share requirement of 10 percent. The maximum grant award is $900,000. Grants are administered on a reimbursement basis.
The application period opened on December 31, 2025 and applications must be submitted by February 9, 2026 at 4 p.m. Awards are expected to be announced no earlier than May 22, 2026.
The MPR grant program complements Governor Hochul’s Unplug and Play initiative to promote kids’ mental and physical health by continuing to rebuild the state’s social infrastructure and help steer children away from the harms of social media and toward positive activities like youth sports, arts programs, civic engagement, and community building. Unplug and Play includes three grant programs that invest in swimming infrastructure, playground construction and renovation, and the building and renovation of community centers.
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Acting Commissioner Kathy Moser said, “Our agency is proud to support Governor Hochul’s priority initiative to expand affordable recreational opportunities throughout New York State. Through this continued grant funding, we are helping more New Yorkers get outside to enjoy community-based parks and outdoor spaces year-round, while making it easier to engage in healthy activities that enhance overall quality of life.
“The Municipal Parks and Recreation Grant Program is another prime example of Governor Hochul’s commitment to outdoor recreation opportunities for all New Yorkers,” New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “With $10 million funded through the truly transformative Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, more youth will be able to unplug and play at new or upgraded parks and recreation sites statewide.”
State Senator Jose Serrano said, “The Municipal Parks and Recreation (MPR) Grant Program is an important investment to fund the development and improvement of municipal parks and recreation sites statewide for the public to enjoy. The development and improvement of municipal parks and recreation sites allow for increased access to vital green spaces. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation, I firmly believe that outdoor recreation can provide many physical and mental health benefits for New Yorkers. Many thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul, The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and my colleagues in government for working to maintain and expand this important initiative.”
Assemblymember Ron Kim said, “The Municipal Parks and Recreation Grant Program is an important, impactful plan to create and develop public spaces in New York for recreation. We need to protect and expand the number of fields, courts, and playgrounds available in our state to people of all ages, and give New Yorkers as many opportunities as possible to reconnect with and enjoy the great outdoors. I thank Governor Hochul and our State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for their work in implementing this program and encourage all eligible applicants to apply.”
New York’s Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act
On November 8, 2022, New York voters overwhelmingly approved the $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act. State agencies, local governments, and partners will be able to access funding to protect water quality, help communities adapt to climate change, improve resiliency, and create green jobs. Bond Act funding will support new and expanded projects across the state to safeguard drinking water sources, reduce pollution, and protect communities and natural resources from climate change. Progress on implementing funding continues, with New York State awarding approximately $1.25 billion, or 25 percent, of Bond Act funds to date. For more information and to sign up for progress updates, go to the Environmental Bond Act webpage.
This fact sheet was provided by Reproductive Freedom for All(formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America) which for 55 years has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels—including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and post-partum care, and paid family leave—for everybody. Reproductive Freedom for All is powered by its more than 4 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, standing up to protect the rights of the 8 in 10 Americans who support legal abortion:
2025 affirmed critical truths that will be at the forefront of our fight in 2026—voters continue to reject abortion bans and support reproductive freedom champions at the ballot box; anti-abortion actors are escalating, not retreating, despite their proven unpopularity; and the human cost of abortion bans is mounting while the full damage is still untold.
Here are the topics that shaped 2025—and how we’re expecting them to play out in 2026:
1: GOP Attacks on Medication Abortion as Proxy for a National Ban
Trump and his allies spent this year mounting coordinated attacks on mifepristone, making clear that restricting medication abortion is the most immediate path to a national abortion ban. By targeting mifepristone through courts, federal agencies, and obscure laws, anti-abortion extremists are attempting to override state protections, medical consensus, and public opinion—and we expect them to double down in 2026. But the reality remains: Medication abortion is safe, effective, and widely used. While abortion bans have devastated access in many states, care persists thanks to telehealth and shield laws, and medication abortion is on the rise.
Key Moments in 2025:
● This year marked 25 years since the FDA approved mifepristone, which has been rigorously studied and used by more than 7.5 million people.
● Renewed litigation as states like Florida, Texas, and Missouri aim to further restrict mifepristone.
● Movement in Missouri v. FDA—GOP-led states’ attempt to revive a dismissed challenge and restrict mifepristone access. This comes after federal district Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk (in Texas) transferred the case to the Eastern District of Missouri, which is conveniently stacked with Trump-appointed, anti-abortion judges.
● Continued reliance on junk science as anti-abortion groups ramp up their outlandish, unscientific claims to stigmatize and surveil medication abortion.
● Quiet groundwork by the Trump administration to misuse the Comstock Act to ban the mailing of mifepristone.
2: “Leave It Up to the States”: Shield Laws vs. Criminalizing Abortion Care
2025 revealed a direct and growing clash between states protecting abortion care and states attempting to criminalize care within and beyond their borders. Shield laws protected patients and providers from extraterritorial legal actions by states that have banned abortion. This prompted aggressive backlash from anti-abortion extremists who have made it crystal clear that they never actually intended to leave abortion access up to individual states.
Key Moments in 2025:
● Sixteen Republican attorneys general urged Congress to override state shield laws.
● Texas enacted HB 7, yet another bounty-hunter abortion ban that encourages private individuals to sue manufacturers, distributors, and providers of medication abortion to receive a minimum of $100,000 in damages.
● States like Texas and Louisiana attempted to bypass other states’ shield laws, while California, New York, Vermont and other blue states strengthened and expanded protections for abortion providers and patients.
● New data from the Society of Family Planning showed an increase in telehealth-provided medication abortion care in the first half of 2025, including from legal shield-state providers.
What We’re Watching in 2026:
● Escalating interstate legal conflicts and congressional efforts to preempt shield laws as the GOP continues to pursue a national abortion ban.
● Copy-cat legislation as anti-abortion lawmakers in state legislatures across the country seek to replicate Texas’s HB 7, the new bounty-hunter ban targeting manufacturers, distributors, and providers of medication abortion. Some states will go even further and attempt to target people who help others access medication abortion care.
3: The GOP-Manufactured Health Care Crisis
Republicans used 2025 to advance a broader assault on health care access—gutting coverage, defunding providers, and driving up costs to push care even further out of reach. As we head into 2026, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits are set to expire, threatening coverage for more than 22 million people, and more health care clinics and rural hospitals across the country are at risk of closing.
Key Moments in 2025:
● In July, Trump and his allies in Congress passed a deeply unpopular budget bill that defunds Planned Parenthood, decimates Medicaid, and ultimately strips health coverage from 15 million people.
● In September, Congressional Republicans shut down the federal government for 43 days—the longest in history. While ignoring calls for a bipartisan spending bill to mitigate their manufactured health care crisis, they did find plenty of time to keep attacking abortion.
● Anti-abortion Republicans slashed funding for Title X, the nation’s only federal funding program dedicated to family planning.
What We’re Watching in 2026:
● An expected January vote on House Democrats’ clean three-year extension of the ACA enhanced premium tax credits. As the ACA fight continues, expect Republicans to keep pushing anti-abortion misinformation to distract from skyrocketing health care costs and their refusal to extend the tax credits.
● The Supreme Court potentially taking up Planned Parenthood Federation of America v. Kennedy—yet another case that threatens Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood and other providers that offer abortion care.
● Intensifying scrutiny of increased public funding for anti-abortion centers, especially as legitimate medical providers lose critical resources.
4: So-Called “Personhood” and Expanding Attacks Beyond Abortion
Republicans accelerated efforts to codify harmful “personhood” ideology—granting legal rights to zygotes, embryos, or fetuses—confirming what reproductive freedom advocates have long warned: Anti-abortion extremists were never going to stop at abortion. “Personhood” ideology lays the groundwork to restrict in vitro fertilization (IVF), contraception, stem cell research, and pregnancy management. Trump and his allies want these threats to fly under the radar because they know just how extreme and unpopular they are. While these laws are often framed as technical changes or isolated incidents, the policies are part of an insidious strategy to launder these unpopular and unworkable ideas, assert even more control over our bodies, and redefine reproductive health care out of existence.
Key Moments in 2025:
● Trump signed an executive order that targeted trans people and defined life as beginning at conception, inserting “personhood” ideology into official administrative policy.
● The self-proclaimed “father of IVF,” Trump confirmed he does not plan to require health insurers to provide coverage for IVF—after campaigning on making these services free.
● House Speaker Mike Johnson quietly worked to successfully remove IVF coverage for active duty military members from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
● Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo vetoed SB 217, which would have expanded access to fertility care by lowering costs and protecting access amid GOP efforts to ban IVF.
● The South Carolina Legislature seriously considered SB 323, a total abortion ban that would have treated abortion as homicide and set the foundation to restrict birth control, IVF, and emergency contraception.
● The Trump administration destroyed $10 million worth of contraceptives, justifying it by falsely categorizing birth control as an “abortifacient.”
What We’re Watching in 2026:
● Renewed domestic gag rule threats (Trump already revived the global gag rule from his first term) that extend anti-abortion ideology into broader domestic health systems.
● The federal government’s continued attacks on birth control, including threats to falsely conflate IUDs and other forms of contraception as abortion care.
● Expanded criminalization efforts as states use laws based on “personhood” ideology to prosecute miscarriage and other pregnancy outcomes.
● Anti-abortion groups’ increased reliance on junk science to vilify IVF and providers who offer a full range of fertility care as part of their broader efforts to sow distrust in legitimate medical institutions and providers while pushing people toward the anti-abortion centers they fund.
5. Rigging the System from the Courts to the Ballot Box
Knowing 8 in 10 Americans support the legal right to abortion care, anti-abortion extremists have doubled down on consolidating power—stacking courts, rewriting rules, and manipulating democratic systems—to impose an unpopular agenda voters repeatedly reject. This strategy targets reproductive freedom alongside voting rights and democracy itself, even as voters continue to push back and are poised to do so again in 2026.
Key Moments in 2025:
● Abortion was a galvanizing issue that drove turnout and victories from coast to coast during the 2025 elections.
● After retaking office, Trump moved quickly to completely overhaul the federal government—stacking every level and branch with extremists ready to advance Project 2025’s priorities.
● The Trump administration also confirmed dozens of judicial nominees to the federal bench—including 13 that have extreme anti-abortion records. These confirmations have set the stage for judges to rubber-stamp Trump’s anti-abortion agenda in the courts.
● Californians overwhelmingly passed Prop 50 to push back against Trump’s redistricting in Texas and other attacks on democracy.
● In response to successful state abortion ballot measures, including in his home state of Missouri, Sen. Josh Hawley and his wife, Erin Hawley—an attorney and key figure in overturning Roe v. Wade—launched a dark money group to promote anti-abortion ballot measures across the country. The move reportedly sparked backlash even within the White House, underscoring just how politically toxic these efforts are.
● Anti-abortion lawmakers in Missouri passed legislation that puts a constitutional amendment on the ballot that, if approved by voters, would remove the abortion protections Missouri voters approved last year. Anti-abortion extremists in Arizona tried to do the same thing, but after advocacy led by Reproductive Freedom for All, this bill was defeated.
What We’re Watching in 2026:
● The 2026 midterms as a referendum on abortion bans and government overreach.
● Nevada’s Question 6, which aims to protect abortion rights in the state constitution, returning to the ballot for final voter approval after a decisive victory in 2024.
● Massive spending by anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which pledged millions to buy the Georgia and Michigan Senate seats.
● High-stakes redistricting and voting rights cases, including Louisiana v. Callaisbefore the Supreme Court, with major implications for representation and democracy.
6: Maternal Mortality and the Human Cost of Abortion Bans
The consequences of abortion bans became even more visible in 2025 as investigative reporting documented more heartbreaking and preventable deaths of pregnant people denied care. Maternal mortality rates are on the rise in states with abortion bans, yet those same states are making it harder to investigate by obfuscating and suppressing data.
Key Moments in 2025:
● Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old Black mother and nurse from Atlanta, was kept on life support for more than 90 days—against her family’s wishes, and long after being declared brain dead—because of Georgia’s extreme abortion ban and so-called fetal personhood ideology.
● Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old Black mother from San Antonio, died from preeclampsia after being denied an abortion during a high-risk pregnancy—despite repeatedly asking for care—under Texas’ extreme abortion ban.
● After Georgia dismissed all members of its Maternal Mortality Commission last year, the state is now keeping the new members secret.
● The Trump administration rescinded the 2022 Biden-era guidance that affirmed federal law protects emergency abortion care—putting lives at risk and creating confusion for providers who still have a legal obligation to provide this care.
What we’re watching in 2026:
● Continued erosion of emergency care protections.
● Ongoing suppression of maternal mortality data by anti-abortion extremists.
● More dangerous miscarriage and pregnancy outcomes in ban states, where emergency interventions and complications are rising.
The storylines that unfolded in 2025 have set the stage for 2026, and the stakes are clear: An extremist minority is escalating authoritarian efforts through every level of power—and our rights and freedoms are at risk. This next year will test whether democracy and science prevail over coordinated and escalating attacks, with control of Congress and the future of reproductive freedom on the line.
Letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum Blasts Rationale Given by Trump Administration and Demands Classified Briefing To Review Purported Threats
Governors Scoff at Claim Offshore Wind Farms Interfere with Radar Systems Given Years of Reviews
Governors Warn Federal Action Will Harm Economy and U.S. Energy Independence Efforts
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, and Rhode Island Governor Dan Mckee today sent a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum demanding the immediate lifting of stop work orders placed Monday on five offshore wind projects under construction, including Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind in New York.
The Governors in the letter also demand a classified briefing to review the unexplained national security threats used to place the stop work orders.
The letter notes that the targeted projects were approved after undergoing substantial federal reviews and processes, including by the U.S. Department of Defense.
The Governors in the letter blast the national security claims and supposed concerns about the impacts offshore wind farms have on radar as pretexts that contradict years of reviews and established practices. They also charge that the Trump Administration is only using the rationale as a “pretexual excuse to justify a predetermined outcome consistent with the President’s frequently stated personal opposition to offshore wind.”
The letter also warns Burgum that by blocking “gigawatts of domestic clean energy, you are effectively throttling the U.S. economy and handing a strategic advantage to foreign rivals who are building power generation as fast as they can. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s 2025 Annual Report — ironically, also released in November — found that in 2024 alone, China added new capacity equivalent to one-third of the entire United States’ power grid, while the U.S. struggles to meet rising energy demands.”
“With this irrational and erratic action, you are not solving a national security crisis; you are creating both a national security and economic disaster. By obstructing domestic power generation, you are inviting grid failure, surrendering the industries of the future, and threatening the economy and national security.”
The paused Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind projects in New York combined threaten more than 2,600 good-paying union jobs. The two projects combined will also generate nearly more than 1,700 megawatts of power, roughly 10 percent of New York City’s electricity needs, meeting the growing demand for energy.
Here is the text of the full letter:
December 24, 2025
The Honorable Doug Burgum,
Secretary
U.S. Department of Interior
Washington, DC 20240
Dear Secretary Burgum:
The undersigned States are in receipt of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (“BOEM”) Orders dated December 2025, purporting to suspend all ongoing activities related to offshore wind project development along our coastlines based on newly asserted “national security concerns” from a so-called “Department of War” assessment.
The States take national security seriously. These projects have already been subject to extensive federal review, including an assessment that expressly addressed national security considerations. Neither the Department of the Interior, BOEM, nor any other federal agency, including the Department of Defense (“DoD”), informed our respective States of any purportedly new risk prior to these suspensions nor did they account for our States’ substantial reliance interests— our States’ economies is dependent on the power that these projects will generate— in these vital projects that already have undergone many federal approvals, including from the DoD. The absence of such notice undermines our ability to plan effectively and violates basic principles of cooperative federalism. The sudden emergence of a new “national security threat” appears to be less a legitimate, rational finding of fact and more a pretextual excuse to justify a predetermined outcome consistent with the President’s frequently stated personal opposition to offshore wind.
We reject this transparent pretext and demand the immediate rescission of these suspensions for the following three reasons:
1. True National Security is Energy Security.
With this irrational and erratic action, you are not solving a national security crisis; you are creating both a national security and economic disaster. By obstructing domestic power generation, you are inviting grid failure, surrendering the industries of the future, and threatening the economy and national security.
The United States is currently in a race for the industries of the future, including onshoring advanced manufacturing, improving the defense industrial base, and maintaining U.S. technology and energy dominance. All consume massive amounts of power. You cannot run a 21st-century economy on a 20th-century grid. By blocking gigawatts of domestic clean energy, you are effectively throttling the U.S. economy and handing a strategic advantage to foreign rivals who are building power generation as fast as they can. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s 2025 Annual Report – ironically, also released in November – found that in 2024 alone, China added new capacity equivalent to one-third of the entire United States’ power grid, while the U.S. struggles to meet rising energy demands.
The Orders directly contradict the President’s purported “Energy Independence” goals. By blocking gigawatts of domestic power generation and killing thousands of jobs, you are forcing reliance on foreign energy markets and volatile supply chains. You cannot claim to be building an energy independent nation while actively dismantling its capacity to generate power.
Independent experts and State officials have documented that our region faces reliability challenges and potential future blackouts without this capacity. A grid that is overly reliant on fossil fuels is a soft target and has higher costs that our residents will be forced to carry. Offshore energy is already providing needed electricity at lower prices to our grid. You cannot claim to protect our nation while knowingly turning off the lights; in effect, these Orders heighten reliability concerns across the East Coast and increase the likelihood of rolling blackouts and will place additional financial burdens on ratepayers.
2. “Classified” Pretexts Contradict Science and Years of Public Vetting.
Administrative actions, such as those you have taken here, cannot be based on undisclosed, secret rationales – especially not when thousands of jobs and vital energy projects are at stake. Yet your letter obliquely alludes to undisclosed “new classified information” regarding “adversary technologies” as the reason for this sudden reversal. We demand an immediate classified briefing for our cleared personnel to review this supposed evidence and all information related to this purported rationale.
It strains credulity to believe that vital, substantial projects that underwent many federal reviews and processes, including by the DoD, all of a sudden present new, existential, unforeseen threats. Erratic, unpredictable, irrational actions like these are no way to govern, let alone plan for power generation capacity decades into the future.
Therefore, in this briefing, we formally request the following specific disclosures:
A clear description of the specific national security risks BOEM and the DoD determined in the purported November 2025 “additional assessment”;
All information, or a summary thereof, of the information related to those risks;
Identification of the particular project components, if any, alleged to give rise to those risks;
An articulation of how the “assessment” applies to these projects in light of previous extensive reviews;
An explanation of why these risks were not communicated to New York immediately upon their purported “discovery” in November.
You cite a 2024 Department of Energy report to claim that radar mitigation causes “missed targets.” That same report, Mitigating Wind Turbine Radar Interference, concludes that “replacement radar and infill radar solutions enhance degraded radar performance … Infills show less clutter and result in better performance … [and] can serve as a viable mitigation solution.” If “clutter” were a genuine threat, it might also apply to the thousands of oil rigs and other seaborne infrastructure in our coastal waters.
As the report itself notes, for conventional radar, the curvature of the Earth creates a physical radar horizon. You are citing “clutter” from objects that most land-based radars cannot even see because the Earth is round. For long-range over-the-horizon radar systems, the argument is equally flawed, as the report also points out. These systems utilize signal processing algorithms and other techniques to mitigate radar interference. In fact, the current Federal Interagency Wind Turbine Radar Interference Mitigation Strategy explicitly calls for “removing radar interference as an impediment to future wind energy development … while preserving U.S. airways, national security, the lives and property of citizens, and sensitive radar systems”.
The Federal Government, including the DoD, reviewed all information for the offshore wind projects years ago. The military had the opportunity to raise concerns and object. They did not, and further certified there was no threat to national security. To claim a threat exists now, after billions of dollars have been invested in these projects and reviews fully completed, is the height of irrationality.
3. You are Disguising Your Delay.
On December 8, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated the federal government’s attempt to arbitrarily halt new offshore wind development. The court explicitly ruled that federal agencies cannot “decline to adjudicate applications altogether… pending the completion of a wide-ranging assessment”.
Your recent Orders are instituting an indefinite delay disguised as a “national security review”. Re-branding the paperwork under the “Department of War” does not cure this defect; it serves only as evidence of pretextual bad faith.
This is a moment for leadership, not obstruction. True national and economic security cannot be achieved by hollowing out our industrial base or leaving our power grid vulnerable to collapse. It requires the courage to build.
We urge you to look beyond bureaucratic games and recognize the real battle being waged: the global race for energy independence, economic dominance, and national security preeminence. Do not be the administration that handed the future to our adversaries by turning off the power at home.
Rescind these suspensions immediately. Let us get back to the work of powering this great nation.
Sincerely,
Kathy Hochul
Governor of New York
Maura Healey
Governor of Massachusetts
Ned Lamont
Governor of Connecticut
Dan McKee
Governor of Rhode Island
cc:
The Honorable Pete Hegseth, Secretary, U.S. Department of Defense
The Honorable Marco Rubio, Secretary, U.S. Department of State, Acting National Security Advisor
Mr. Alex Meyer, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
The Trump administration’s latest attack on clean energy, climate action and energy independence in order to bolster the fossil fuel industry, prompted New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee to issue a joint statement decrying the action (which was already overturned in federal court), and promising to continue to fight the action in court. In addition, Governor Hochul published an op-ed in the Empire Report. These are projects that have been years in development, have gone through all the regulatory and environmental reviews, and have been well underway, nearing completion and would supply millions of households with lower cost energy while addressing the crisis in reducing carbon emissions contributing to climate change, climate disasters and sealevel rise. The relationship between the dependence on oil, wars and imperialism is heightened as Trump with one hand overturns clean energy initiatives and carbon emission standards, while he takes over Venezuelan oil tankers threatens an invasion of Venezuela to take over its oil resources.
“The Trump administration’s announcement yesterday pausing offshore wind leases is its latest egregious attack on clean energy and it lands like a lump of dirty coal for the holiday season for American workers, consumers, and investors. Pausing active leases, especially for completed and nearly completed projects, defies logic, will hurt our bid for energy independence, will drive up costs for America ratepayers, and will make us lose thousands of good-paying jobs. It also threatens grid reliability that is needed to keep the lights on.
“Atlantic states are working hard to build more energy to meet rising demand and lower costs. Already, these projects have created thousands of jobs and injected billions in economic activity into our communities.
“This baseless, reckless and erratic action from the Department of Interior will also inject further uncertainty into the markets, making it harder for states and private companies to secure financing for public works projects if investors know they can be stopped at any time despite having gone through all the necessary local and federal approval processes.
“A federal judge earlier this month ruled the Trump administration cannot simply halt federal approvals of offshore wind permits arbitrarily. We are committed as governors to again fight back to ensure these projects move forward and provide power, jobs, and grid reliability to our communities.”
Governor Kathy Hochul: ‘Killing Jobs Won’t Power America;
Today, Empire Report published an op-ed by Governor Kathy Hochul responding to President Trump’s suspension of offshore wind projects. Text of the op-ed can be viewed online and is available below:
Right in the midst of the holiday season, we learned that President Trump is once again pulling the rug out from under New York workers. Without warning, his administration shut down Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind, along with offshore wind projects in other states. In one reckless move, he put thousands of good-paying jobs and New York’s energy future at risk.
Imagine working hard all year, only to find out that your job is suddenly gone. That is reality for nearly 2,000 New Yorkers who woke up yesterday wondering if they will still have a paycheck. People who did everything right, worked hard, and showed up every day, are now being told their livelihoods do not matter. Not because these projects failed. Not because the permits were flawed. But because the President decided to pull the plug.
The jobs building these wind farms aren’t just good union jobs that keep families afloat — they are also jobs that will create clean energy and keep energy costs down. Just a few months ago, the New York State Independent System Operator warned that unless New York starts generating more power quickly, we could face blackouts as soon as this summer.
That is why New York is aggressively pursuing an all-of-the-above energy approach. We build. We plan. We use every tool available–solar, wind, nuclear, and gas–because keeping the lights on and costs down is not optional.
Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind are central to that effort. Together, these projects are expected to generate enough electricity to power roughly 10 percent of New York City. They strengthen reliability at a time of growing demand. They reduce pressure on energy prices for families already stretched thin. And they anchor a robust offshore wind supply chain, from ports and manufacturers to electricians, ironworkers, and longshoremen who depend on these projects to keep working.
President Trump’s vendetta against wind projects is obsessive and baffling. It is also not new. When President Trump issued a stop work order on Empire Wind 1 earlier this year, I convinced him to lift it. Alongside the Attorney General, I went to court to ensure he could not arbitrarily deny new offshore wind permits. Just as canceling Empire Wind 1 was unacceptable months ago, this new stoppage is unacceptable now.
The President is now hiding behind claims of national security, arguing that projects approved by the Department of Defense and fully permitted at the federal and state level, are suddenly a threat. New Yorkers know the truth. The real threat is not a carefully designed offshore wind project. It is a President undermining America’s ability to produce its own energy.
Mr. President, you and I agree: Energy independence matters. So let us build.
I have saved wind power in New York before. And now, in partnership with the other impacted states, I will do it again. This will not be the year that hardworking New Yorkers lose their paychecks during the holidays because their President turned his back on them. This will be the year that New Yorkers have the jobs they need and the power their economy requires, at a cost they can afford, because I will never stop fighting for New Yorkers.
Despite – or because – of trump’s Executive Order neutering state regulation of AI (a giveaway to Musk, Ellison, Bezos and Zuckerberg and his billionaire tech enablers – New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed the RAISE Act, requiring transparency and reporting by powerful frontier AI model developers for incidents of critical harm, and created a new oversight office within the state’s Department of Financial Services to ensure AI frontier model transparency.- Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com
Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday, December 19, signed legislation to require AI frameworks for AI frontier models, setting a nation-leading standard for AI transparency and safety. The agreed-upon chapter amendments to the RAISE Act (S6953B/A6453B) requires large AI developers to create and publish information about their safety protocols, and report incidents to the State within 72 hours of determining that an incident occurred. It also creates an oversight office within the Department of Financial Services that will assess large frontier developers and enable greater transparency. The office will issue reports annually.
“By enacting the RAISE Act, New York is once again leading the nation in setting a strong and sensible standard for frontier AI safety, holding the biggest developers accountable for their safety and transparency protocols,”Governor Hochul said.“This law builds on California’s recently adopted framework, creating a unified benchmark among the country’s leading tech states as the federal government lags behind, failing to implement common-sense regulations that protect the public. I thank the leaders and members of both houses of the Legislature, as well as the bill’s sponsors, for their partnership in delivering this responsible, nation-leading approach to AI safety.”
Artificial intelligence is evolving faster than any technology in human history. It is driving groundbreaking scientific advances leading to life-changing medicines, unlocking new creative potential, and automating mundane tasks. At the same time, experts and practitioners in the field readily acknowledge the potential for serious risks.
Under the new law the Attorney General can bring civil actions against large frontier developers for the failure to submit required reporting or making false statements. Penalties are up to $1 million for the first violation and up to $3 million for subsequent violations.
New York State Department of Financial Services Acting Superintendent Kaitlin Asrow said,“DFS has been a leader in developing rules that are facilitating the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence by financial services companies. DFS looks forward to supporting Governor Hochul’s continued efforts to foster innovation and establish standards for the safe development of artificial intelligence models.”
“This is an enormous win for the safety of our communities, the growth of our economy and the future of our society,” State Senator Andrew Gournardes said. “The RAISE Act lays the groundwork for a world where AI innovation makes life better instead of putting it at risk. Big tech oligarchs think it’s fine to put their profits ahead of our safety — we disagree. With this law, we make clear that tech innovation and safety don’t have to be at odds. In New York, we can lead in both.”
“Today is a major victory in what will soon be a national fight to harness the best of AI’s potential and protect Americans from the worst of its harms,” Assemblymember Alex Bores, stated. “New York now has the strongest AI transparency law in the country. This bill moves beyond California’s SB53 in significant ways, and sets the stage for greater disclosure, learning, and legislative action in years to come. In New York, we defeated last-ditch attempts from AI oligarchs to wipe out this bill and, by doing so, raised the floor for what AI safety legislation can look like. And we defeated Trump’s — and his donors’ — attempt to stop RAISE through executive action greenlighting a Wild West for AI.”
The Center for American Progress stated, “On December 11, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence” (AI National Framework EO) that seeks to unlawfully nullify state laws enacted to govern artificial intelligence (AI). It does so by wrongfully arguing that these laws threaten the United States’ global AI dominance and directing the federal government to act against states with “onerous” state AI laws, primarily by challenging them in court and withholding federal funding from those states. This EO calls for an unprecedented, unconstitutional, and dangerous assertion of the federal executive branch into the powers of state and local government.” (See: President Trump’s AI National Policy Executive Order Is an Unambiguous Threat to States Beyond Just AI)
Other states have passed laws regulating AI: California’s law requires the biggest A.I. models, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, to test for safety and to disclose the results. South Dakota passed a law banning deep fakes (realistic A.I.-generated videos) in political advertisements within months of an election. Utah, Illinois and Nevada passed laws related to A.I. chatbots and mental health, requiring disclosures that users are engaging with chatbots and adding restrictions on data collection. (See: Trump Signs Executive Order to Neuter State A.I. Laws)
NYS: A Global Leader in Artificial Intelligence
The enactment of the RAISE Act complements New York’s global leadership in AI technology through innovation, collaboration and responsibility. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, she created Empire AI, the state’s trailblazing consortium that is uniting academia, industry and government for the public good. This new law ensures that innovation continues to thrive while safeguarding against potential harms, and reinforces New York’s position as a global hub for ethical AI development.
