US Senator Chuck Schumer on Sunday made a surprising claim that recent budget and staffing cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to the US Coast Guard might have contributed to the deadly collision involving a Mexican tall ship crashing into the Brooklyn Bridge, reports the New York Post.
Schumer pointed to what he described as Trump administration interfering in the work of the US Coast Guard and said the impact of these changes needed urgent investigation.
“We know there has been meddling by the Trump administration into USCG staffing, and we need to know how this might have impacted the events of last night — from a command, communication and local coordination level,” he said in a press release.
He also raised concerns about the Coast Guard’s Vehicle Traffic System, comparing it to an “FAA-like traffic control operation.” Schumer suggested this system might not have been “fully or adequately functional in light of a hiring freeze.” He warned, “If this were the case, the Brooklyn Bridge accident would be a national harbinger, demanding immediate attention.”
However, there have been no reports of any other vessels being involved in the crash, which took place on Saturday evening.
The Mexican navy training ship Cuauhtémoc lost steering due to a mechanical failure, which left it vulnerable to the East River’s currents. This caused the ship to collide with the Brooklyn Bridge, killing two navy cadets and injuring at least 17 others.
The Coast Guard responded immediately to the incident.
DOGE, led by billionaire Elon Musk and established earlier this year under Trump, has implemented significant budget and staffing cuts across various agencies, including the Coast Guard.
Schumer, who has faced criticism for his recent political stances and poll numbers, has been under pressure for supporting a Trump-backed budget and avoiding questions about former President Joe Biden ’s mental health during his term.
Background on the crash
The Cuauhtémoc, a nearly 300-foot Mexican navy training ship carrying 277 people, collided with the Brooklyn Bridge around 8:30 pm on Saturday. The ship’s 147-foot masts struck the bridge’s roadway and broke. Two sailors were reportedly trapped atop the mast during the impact.
The incident caused pandemonium, with 23 people injured and two dead, according to the NYPD. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as sailors dangled from the rigging, some rescued after hanging for over 15 minutes.
The vessel was preparing to leave New York for a goodwill tour to Iceland. The 142-year-old Brooklyn Bridge did not suffer major structural damage, but all lanes were briefly closed for inspection.
The ship remained stuck under the bridge until a tugboat helped hold it in place. The Cuauhtémoc’s mast height is about 160 feet, while the bridge clearance at high tide is only 127 feet.
Schumer pointed to what he described as Trump administration interfering in the work of the US Coast Guard and said the impact of these changes needed urgent investigation.
“We know there has been meddling by the Trump administration into USCG staffing, and we need to know how this might have impacted the events of last night — from a command, communication and local coordination level,” he said in a press release.
He also raised concerns about the Coast Guard’s Vehicle Traffic System, comparing it to an “FAA-like traffic control operation.” Schumer suggested this system might not have been “fully or adequately functional in light of a hiring freeze.” He warned, “If this were the case, the Brooklyn Bridge accident would be a national harbinger, demanding immediate attention.”
However, there have been no reports of any other vessels being involved in the crash, which took place on Saturday evening.
The Mexican navy training ship Cuauhtémoc lost steering due to a mechanical failure, which left it vulnerable to the East River’s currents. This caused the ship to collide with the Brooklyn Bridge, killing two navy cadets and injuring at least 17 others.
The Coast Guard responded immediately to the incident.
DOGE, led by billionaire Elon Musk and established earlier this year under Trump, has implemented significant budget and staffing cuts across various agencies, including the Coast Guard.
Schumer, who has faced criticism for his recent political stances and poll numbers, has been under pressure for supporting a Trump-backed budget and avoiding questions about former President Joe Biden ’s mental health during his term.
Background on the crash
The Cuauhtémoc, a nearly 300-foot Mexican navy training ship carrying 277 people, collided with the Brooklyn Bridge around 8:30 pm on Saturday. The ship’s 147-foot masts struck the bridge’s roadway and broke. Two sailors were reportedly trapped atop the mast during the impact.
The incident caused pandemonium, with 23 people injured and two dead, according to the NYPD. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as sailors dangled from the rigging, some rescued after hanging for over 15 minutes.
The vessel was preparing to leave New York for a goodwill tour to Iceland. The 142-year-old Brooklyn Bridge did not suffer major structural damage, but all lanes were briefly closed for inspection.
The ship remained stuck under the bridge until a tugboat helped hold it in place. The Cuauhtémoc’s mast height is about 160 feet, while the bridge clearance at high tide is only 127 feet.
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