He missed the boat on this one. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Sunday bizarrely suggested that DOGE cuts to the US Coast Guard could have been partly to blame for a Mexican tall ship's deadlycollision with the Brooklyn Bridge. "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," the embattled Dem said in a press release. Harrowing footage shows Mexican sailors clinging to rigging for dear life after Brooklyn Bridge crash Mexican Navy tall ship lost power before Brooklyn Bridge crash that killed 2, injured 17: NYPD Night of joy for pals of Mexican Navy ship crew turns into tragedy as vessel strikes Brooklyn Bridge: 'We were very scared' Here's why Mexican Navy tall ship that struck Brooklyn Bridge — killing at least 2 — was in NYC Mexican navy cadet América Yamilet Sánchez, 20, ID'd as first victim in Brooklyn Bridge crash "There are indications that this service [Vehicle Traffic System] may not be fully or adequately functional in light of a hiring freeze," he said — referring to what he described as the Coast Guard's "FAA-like traffic control operation." "If this were the case, the Brooklyn Bridge accident would be a national harbinger, demanding immediate attention," the pol said. But there were no reports of any other ship being involved in any way in Saturday's tragedy. Sources have said the Mexican sailing ship Cuauhtemoc struck the bridge because a mechanical failure shut down its steering, leaving it at the mercy of East River currents that pulled the vessel into the historic bridge,killing two navy cadetsand injuring at least 17 others. In a press release Sunday, the Coast Guard also said itresponded to the scene of the deadlycollision immediately upon being notified, in keeping with its designated mission. "Sector New York immediately launched a crew from Coast Guard Station New York to the scene and established a safety zone from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Manhattan Bridge," the release said. "New York Vessel Traffic Services suspended commercial traffic in the area." President Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, headed by billionaire Elon Musk, has trimmed staffing and budgets across a slew of agencies since being formed earlier this year. The cuts included the Coast Guard, which eliminated its Logistics Information Management System, which was supposed to manage configuration, maintenance, supply chain and technical data. The cutting of the system, whichwas deemed ineffective, saved the agency more than $32 million. There has been no indication from the Coast Guard that the move has hampered its operations. Schumer has been battling dismal recent poll numbers, taking heat for everything from supporting a President Trump-backed budget bill to refusing to answer some questions about Dem then-President Joe Biden's mental decline while in office.
