As the Trump administration terminates thousands of federal employees, New York Governor Kathy Hochul sees a hiring opportunity. She has invited these workers to apply for state jobs, aiming to fill over 7,000 unfilled positions due to a tight labor market. Hochul’s recruitment campaign targets federal employees affected by the cost-cutting measures spearheaded by Elon Musk. She emphasized New York’s appreciation for public service, directly contrasting her approach with the federal government’s cuts. While some local Republicans criticized the initiative as politically motivated, others praised it as a forward-thinking solution for workforce gaps in the state.
As the Trump administration lays off thousands of employees and keeps many others uncertain about their futures, the New York governor sees a chance to hire.
On Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul encouraged federal workers to apply for public-sector positions in New York State, initiating a recruitment campaign aimed at employees impacted by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which focuses on budget cuts rather than being an actual department. Last month, the Trump administration distributed deferred resignation letters to federal workers with the subject line “Fork in the Road,” while Mr. Musk announced over the weekend that all federal employees would need to account for their achievements or risk termination.
According to Ms. Hochul’s office, New York has approximately 180,000 state employees but over 7,000 vacant positions, resulting from a tight labor market and an aging workforce.
“The federal government might say ‘You’re fired,’ but here in New York, we say ‘You’re hired,’” Ms. Hochul, a Democrat known for her critical stance toward the Trump administration, stated in a video unveiling the recruitment initiative. “In fact, we value federal workers. Whatever your skill set, we appreciate public service.”
During a State Police graduation event, Ms. Hochul also welcomed any F.B.I. employees seeking new jobs, indicating that “It would be an honor” to have them join the state workforce. The governor’s office announced that a dedicated portal for potential applicants was launched on Tuesday morning, though it was premature to assess the response.
A White House spokesperson, Harrison Fields, accused New York officials of attempting to “inflate their payrolls with additional bureaucrats.” He further stated, “Expanding the public sector does not align with President Trump’s definition of job creation.”
It remains uncertain how many federal employees based in New York have been terminated since President Trump resumed office last month. As of December, there were approximately 54,000 federal workers in the state, based on a report from the Congressional Research Service, a division of the Library of Congress.
Mr. Trump has assigned Mr. Musk the task of significantly transforming the federal government, claiming that this initiative will enhance governmental efficiency. Since the commencement of Mr. Trump’s second term, the federal workforce has seen a reduction of at least 28,000 positions, with complete freezes enforced on several federal agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.), which is responsible for providing humanitarian assistance.
Some of the dismissals have been temporarily halted by court orders. Overall, the federal government employs over two million individuals. The Office of Personnel Management, the federal government’s HR agency, refrained from commenting on New York’s recruitment endeavor.
Ms. Hochul’s initiative received a cautious response from William A. Barclay, the Republican minority leader in the New York State Assembly. Mr. Barclay expressed that while he would be pleased to see the state recruit qualified federal employees, the recruitment campaign seemed more like a “political statement” than a solution to the labor gaps in the state.
On the other hand, former New York Governor David Paterson described Ms. Hochul’s strategy as “very forward-thinking,” suggesting it would attract federal workers who see “no relief in sight.”
“She’s offering an alternative,” Mr. Paterson, a Democrat, mentioned in an interview, adding, “I believe other governors will follow Governor Hochul’s example.”