Composite image: Inset billboard showing Governor Hochul holding up a pamphlet while speaking at a podium. Unlike President Donald Trump, Governor Hochul’s motto is “You’re hired!” Hochul is actively recruiting federal workers who were dismissed by the Department of Government Efficiency to fill around 7,000 state positions. This move is projected to increase yearly taxpayer costs by hundreds of millions of dollars, further expanding the already inflated payroll that has grown by billions during her tenure. In a video released on February 25, Hochul declared, “The federal government might say ‘You’re fired,’ but here in New York, we say ‘You’re hired!'” She recently launched digital billboards at Washington D.C.’s Union Station and Manhattan’s Moynihan Station, featuring the Statue of Liberty urging commuters to consider opportunities in New York.
With the state’s workforce already having increased by 6% under Hochul’s leadership, the campaign to recruit federal workers has stirred controversy. The push for hiring comes as the payroll has swollen to include 223,760 “full-time equivalent” employees, up from 211,042 two years ago. The total payroll for the previous year is expected to surpass the $19.3 billion in 2023 and $18.2 billion in 2022, representing a significant increase during Hochul’s governorship.
Among the available positions are roles like chief of staff for the Office of Cannabis Management with an annual salary of $173,664, chief diversity officer for the Office of General Services earning $156,224, and gender violence prevention specialists at the Office for the Protection of Domestic Violence, offering salaries of up to $106,454. The recruitment drive targets approximately 100,000 federal workers who have been laid off or accepted buyouts since Trump’s return to office. These cuts have reportedly saved taxpayers $105 billion, primarily impacting agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of Education.
Governor Hochul has faced criticism for the campaign, particularly from the White House, with spokesperson Harrison Fields accusing New York State of prioritizing expanding the public sector over creating genuine job opportunities. Ken Girardin, director of research at the Empire Center for Public Policy, labeled the hiring efforts as typical Albany politics, driven by pressure from public employee unions. He argued that Hochul missed an opportunity to streamline the state workforce, which had naturally decreased during the pandemic due to retirements and slow hiring processes.
State Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay (R-Pulaski) criticized the state government for expanding its workforce, calling it a fundamental belief of the Democrats. He expressed concern about the affordability of living in the state and the challenge of attracting new residents. In response, a spokesperson for Governor Hochul defended the hiring efforts, emphasizing the importance of restoring the state workforce to pre-pandemic levels. New York has introduced a new initiative to recruit federal workers who were let go, aiming to bring in individuals with valuable skills and experience. Some individuals, like Frank Morano, a Republican candidate for a NYC Council seat, advocate for the establishment of a state agency similar to DOGE to ensure responsible fiscal management and prevent wasteful spending on unnecessary programs.
