NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Sen. Chuck Schumer held a press conference at his Midtown office Sunday to address the government shutdown, which is going into its third week amid a stalemate over the border wall.
The senator put it in stark terms: “In New York City, there are 51,000 federal employees. Right now, 16,657 of them are out of work.”
Across the region, Schumer said the number of federal workers and contractors affected is even bigger.
“It’s a pretty good guess that in the New York metropolitan area, over 50,000 people are not getting paid because of this shutdown,” he said.
Schumer listed off some of the consequences of the shutdown, among them: no FHA mortgage loans for homebuyers; no government loans for farmers; no one from the IRS to process tax refunds; security officers not working at airports; and federal aid to the MTA delayed.
Schumer said federal contractors are also cut off, meaning they have to lay off their own employees.
“Everyone is affected, whether you’re a taxpayer, a subway or bus rider, a potential homeowner,” Schumer said.
With President Trump threatening to keep the government shut down for months or even years, Schumer said they need to reach a deal soon.
“We have differences. We should discuss those and try to come to an agreement,” he said.
On Sunday, Trump said he didn’t expect anything to come of the current round of negotiations between the administration and congressional leaders.
And the president said he’s still thinking about declaring a national emergency to try to circumvent Congress as it stand in the way of the border wall.
On Twitter Sunday evening, Trump called Vice President Mike Pence's meeting with Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi productive.
"Many details of Border Security were discussed. We are now planning a Steel Barrier rather than concrete. It is both stronger & less obtrusive. Good solution, and made in the U.S.A.," the president wrote.