THE Statue of Liberty could shut its doors as a federal government shutdown drags on.
New York’s governor said the state won’t pay to keep the monument open.
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island could close as New York won’t fund them during the federal government shutdown (stock)[/caption]
New York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, said the state won’t pay to keep the monument open[/caption]
People should blame Republicans, she added.
Liberty Island and Ellis Island were still open on Wednesday.
But Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said funding the sites during the stalemate isn’t on the state’s tab.
That’s a shift from previous shutdowns, when former Governor Andrew Cuomo used state funds to keep Lady Liberty welcoming visitors.
Hochul spoke at a news conference in Lower Manhattan, with the statue visible behind her.
She called the shutdown “wrong” and said it hits more than monuments.
More than 100,000 federal workers in New York, including National Park Service staff, won’t get paid while Congress fails to pass a funding deal, Gothamist reported.
Other federal programs, like Head Start and food assistance, are also at risk.
“It sucks,” Hochul said bluntly.
She warned that Liberty Park could stay closed, saying Americans need to understand the consequences of the shutdown.
“People need to see that there’s consequences right now to what the Republicans have done, and definitely go to the polls next year,” she said.
It’s unclear if the statue’s lights would be turned off if Liberty Island closes.
Cuomo, now running for New York City mayor as an independent, said he would have stepped in with state funds again.
“Under no circumstances do I believe the dysfunction of the federal government should dim the Statue of Liberty’s lights or shutter its doors,” Cuomo said.
What the Shutdown Means
- Congress failed to pass a funding deal, forcing a federal government shutdown.
- More than 100,000 federal workers in New York won’t get paid during the standoff.
- National parks and monuments, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, face closure.
- Key programs like Head Start and food assistance are also at risk.
- The last shutdown in 2018 cost New York $65,000 a day to keep the statue open.
He said previously interventions in 2013 and 2018 cost about $65,000 per day.
In Congress, most Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, opposed a Republican bill to fund the government temporarily.
They wanted health insurance subsidies restored before approving funding.
Republicans blamed Democrats for walking away from legislation to keep the government open.
Republican Nicole Malliotakis, representing Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, said she voted to keep government services running.
“Our government is shut down because Democrats continue to play games impacting our military and government services that Americans rely on,” she said.
Hochul used the statue to highlight the stakes, saying the symbol of Liberty still stands even if doors close.
