New York Senator Chuck Schumer is demanding an investigation into what he claims could be the Trump administration’s contribution to a Mexican Navy ship’s deadly crash into the Brooklyn Bridge.
The vessel, a Mexican Navy training ship named Cuauhtémoc, struck the historic Brooklyn Bridge around 9 p.m. on Saturday with 277 crew members on board.
Tragically, two of them fell from the ship’s masts and died upon impact with the deck. At least 19 others required medical attention following the crash.
During his weekly press briefing, Schumer raised concerns that federal cost-cutting and staffing issues initiated under President Donald Trump may have played a role in the incident.
“I have the general sense of a DOGE dysfunction in parts of the Coast Guard,” he told reporters, according to CBS New York.
Schumer questioned whether decisions made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), including recent budget slashes, could have weakened the Coast Guard’s ability to effectively manage maritime operations in the area.
“We know that there has been meddling by the Trump administration into the Coast Guard staffing, and now we need to know how this meddling might have impacted the events of last night, from a command, communication and local coordination level,” he asserted.
Earlier this year in April, DOGE implemented a $32.7 million reduction in Coast Guard spending, citing the termination of a “poorly performing IT initiative” known as the Logistics Information Management System (CG-LIMS), according to a report from Fox News.
Almost immediately after President Trump assumed office in January, he removed the female commander of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Reports at the time suggested that her priorities, including a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, clashed with the Trump administration’s concerns about immigration enforcement and operational focus.
“After being fully briefed on last night’s Brooklyn Bridge accident, one thing is very clear, there are many more questions than answers as to how the accident occurred and whether it could have been prevented,” Schumer continued.
He pointed to the possible failure of the Coast Guard’s vehicle traffic service (VTS) system, a maritime version of the FAA’s air traffic control, as a key factor to scrutinize.
“There are indications that this service called the VTS may not have been fully or adequately functional in light of that hiring freeze,” he said.
“We don’t know the answer to that question. We need answers. If this were the case, Brooklyn Bridge accident could be a national harbinger, demanding immediate attention.”
Despite Schumer’s accusations, New York City police officials said the Cuauhtémoc, which stands 160 feet tall, likely experienced a mechanical malfunction that resulted in a loss of power just before it collided with the bridge.
The ship had been docked in New York as part of a 15-nation goodwill tour and was preparing to depart when the crash occurred.
Chief Wilson Aramboles of the NYPD Special Operations Bureau told reporters that “some mechanical issues” were likely to blame.
“The captain that was maneuvering the ship lost, I guess, power of the ship,” Aramboles said, though he noted the assessment was still preliminary.
Environmental conditions may have also played a role. At the time of the incident, the tide had recently changed, and the East River’s current had strengthened. Wind speeds reached 10 mph, which may have complicated navigation.
Additional scrutiny is being placed on whether a tugboat escort detached from the Cuauhtémoc prematurely.
Questions have arisen over whether the vessel should have remained attached or guided the ship farther into open waters.
While the National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation, conclusions could take months.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated the 142-year-old bridge sustained no major structural damage from the incident.
Mexican authorities confirmed that cadet América Yamilet Sánchez was among the deceased.
The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, posted a message of sympathy on X early Sunday.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of two crew members of the Cuauhtémoc Training Ship, who lost their lives in the unfortunate accident in New York Harbor. Our sympathy and support go out to their families,” she wrote.
Sheinbaum also confirmed that medical attention was being administered to those injured, and acknowledged that both the Mexican Embassy and the Consulate General in New York are assisting the Navy during the ongoing response.
“I thank New York Mayor Eric Adams for all the support he has provided to our fellow citizens. We are monitoring the situation, and the Navy will continue to provide updates,” she added.
