The revelation was contained in a letter Reps. Dan Goldman (D-Brooklyn, Manhattan), Paul Tonko (D-Albany) and Timothy Kennedy (D-Buffalo) despatched Monday to Scott Turner, Trump’s new housing and concrete growth secretary.
Within the letter, the three Democrats wrote they not too long ago discovered that there’s “just one field policy and management employee left at the New York City office,” which helps with processing of rental help advantages like Part 8 for practically 1,000,000 residents, a lot of them in public housing.
“We have been informed that our constituents seeking help in person at local field offices will likely be turned away because reduced staff cannot adequately serve all those who need it,” they added.
It’s unclear precisely what number of staffers there was within the metropolis workplace. A Goldman rep mentioned there have been a number of previous to this yr, although.
The missive comes after The Related Press reported final month that Trump’s administration has internally laid out a proposal at HUD to slash its workforce in half. A few of these cuts seem to have since moved ahead.
The three New York lawmakers urged Turner to pump the brakes on any additional makes an attempt to intestine the company, warning that disastrous penalties might in any other case ensue.
“Any attempt to unilaterally eliminate or significantly reduce the workforce of a HUD field office will make it far more difficult for the most vulnerable Americans to access vital public resources, make the process far less efficient, and ultimately prevent many from getting the benefits they are entitled to,” they wrote.
Given staffing ranges, the company’s metropolis workplace could successfully shut down if extra cuts are imposed, the lawmakers warned.
Trump’s administration hasn’t simply focused HUD for cuts. In an effort spearheaded by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk, the administration is slashing spending for varied initiatives throughout the federal forms, together with overseas assist and schooling funding.