U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Democrats are working to restore funding cuts made by the Department of Government Expenditure (DOGE) in the current budget. He also said that they plan to reverse all such cuts if they gain control in the 2026 midterms.
“If you look at the budget actually we’re working on right now, and we’ll have the T-HUD budget, you know, transportation and HUD budget, we restore most of the cuts and even go higher than previous years on many of the programs that DOGE slashed,” said Schumer. “But we have worked really hard in the budget and gotten bipartisan support to increase these amounts and undo a lot of the cuts, which are essential. If you look at the budget we’re working on right now, we restore most of the cuts. And even go higher than previous years on many of the programs that DOGE slashed.”
According to Schumer, who spoke at the Center for American Progress affordability summit in Washington, D.C., these remarks were made during a discussion on federal spending priorities. He addressed questions about replenishing funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), highlighting ongoing efforts to enhance transportation and HUD budgets beyond previous levels.
In New York, federal funding decreased by nearly $16 billion in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, compared to the prior year. The state experienced a loss of nearly 121,000 jobs between December and March, including 1,600 federal positions. Federal grants dropped by $7.6 billion, affecting nonprofits and higher education institutions.
The cuts from DOGE have led to significant layoffs within federal agencies, including the closure of five regional offices. With 50,000 layoffs projected nationwide, the U.S. is expected to lose $12.6 billion in tax revenue for fiscal year 2026. These reductions are anticipated to cause delays in tax returns and customer service for millions of households.
Schumer was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 23, 1950. He graduated from Harvard College in 1971 and Harvard Law School in 1974. Schumer served in the New York State Assembly from 1975 to 1980 and then represented New York in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 until he became a U.S. Senator in 1999.
