New York’s Budget Could Go Into Overtime Amid Federal Uncertainty
Gov. Kathy Hochul Says A Special Session Could Be An Option To Address Trump Cuts.
By Nick Reisman Politico March 24, 2025
ALBANY, New York — A legislative special session later this year could address likely federal spending cuts, Gov. Kathy Hochul said for the first time Monday ahead of an April 1 budget deadline.
New York lawmakers and Hochul are racing this week to finish work on a $252 billion state budget — a plan the governor introduced in January and which does not take into consideration efforts in Washington to slash health care and education.
The Democratic governor has been eager to blame New York House Republicans for the expected cuts, but she acknowledged to reporters Monday that the state Legislature could return after June 12, which is the final scheduled day of the legislative session.
“Nothing prohibits us from coming back in a special session to deal with anything that comes our way from the federal government,” Hochul said during the off-topic portion of her news conference.
Democratic lawmakers have quietly discussed the likelihood of returning to Albany — potentially in September — to square the approved state budget with federal-level actions that could include deep spending cuts to health care and education funding.
Hochul has met twice with President Donald Trump this year to discuss mass transit funding and energy policy, though neither meeting yielded any definitive results.
But New York lawmakers want to give the Democratic governor more leverage over the Republican president. Sen. Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Micah Lasher unveiled legislation today that would allow the state to withhold billions of dollars in payments to the federal government if Congress approves any cuts to New York.
“If the federal government thinks they can cut off funding to New York state, they’ve got another thing coming,” Lasher said. “This legislation will deter bullying by Donald Trump.”