Trump’s Federal Cuts Hit Home, Seventy Jobs Lost, Hundreds of Families at Risk:

— Cuts to refugee programs have left hundreds of families with fewer resources and cost Syracuse 70 jobs. Our leaders have a choice — act or stay silent

August 11th 2025

Central New York Has Always Been Home

Syracuse has a long history of welcoming new neighbors, from the civil rights era to today. We have worked to make Central New York a place people can call home, no matter where they came from. As a community, we have a duty to uphold that tradition.

Hundreds of New American families in Syracuse rely on nonprofit organizations like InterFaith Works and Catholic Charities for help with the most basic parts of starting life here. That includes finding housing, enrolling children in school, learning English, and connecting to jobs. Since January, federal funding for refugee resettlement has been halted or delayed, forcing these agencies to cut services and staff. The result is simple: families who came here for safety are left with fewer resources to build their new lives.

Seventy Jobs Lost. Silence from Local Republicans.

I have grown accustomed to Republicans not caring about New Americans who are attempting to find a better life here. These cuts, however, are also impacting the “jobs” we love to tout when we create them.

Since January, Catholic Charities of Syracuse announced they would be cutting 51 jobs and InterFaith Works have announced 19 layoffs. These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. They are neighbors, co-workers, and friends who now face uncertainty. They are people who have dedicated their careers to helping people start fresh and contribute to our community.

When these jobs vanish, it is not only the workers who suffer. Grocery stores lose customers. Local schools lose engaged families. Our entire local economy feels the impact.

This Did Not Just Happen. It Was a Political Decision.

These layoffs are a direct result of Donald Trump’s decision to cut funding for refugee programs. This was not a budget oversight. It was a deliberate choice to halt a program that has helped Syracuse grow for decades.

Here in Onondaga County, we have a Republican County Executive and 12 Republican legislators. They cannot claim this is just a Washington problem. They were elected on the promise of leadership, and that leadership includes speaking up when their party makes decisions that hurt the people they represent.

Instead, we hear constant talk about new jobs they plan to bring in, while they stay silent as dozens of existing jobs disappear right in front of us..

In 2019, former Congressman John Katko, then one of the most senior Republicans in the House and the highest ranking Republican in Central New York, took a public stand against attempts to block vetted refugees from resettling in our community. He understood that refugee resettlement is not just about compassion, but about economic stability and growth.

I have a pretty clear and loud record of opposing most of what Katko stood for, but his position shows this is not a partisan impossibility. Republicans can, and have, defended both the jobs and the people connected to refugee programs. How have Central New York’s Republicans fallen so far, so quickly?

Even John Katko Did Not Stand for This.

It Is Time for Local Republican Leaders to Step Up

We’ve seen how quickly our legislators act when their actions benefit themselves. We’ve seen our executive get creative with spending to fund the aquarium project. If our local Republican officials truly care about “jobs” and community stability, they should be:

  • Publicly condemning the refugee funding cuts.

  • Using their influence to stand up for our neighbors, and against cuts to their services.

  • Exploring county-level funding or partnerships to prevent more layoffs.

This is not about scoring political points. This is about doing what is right for our community, our economy, and our reputation as a place that welcomes those who need a fresh start?

What You Can Do Right Now

If you live in Onondaga County, especially if you vote Republican, your voice matters. Contact the County Executive and your County Legislator and tell them:

“I want you to present a concrete plan to address the layoffs caused by the refugee funding cuts, or at least acknowledge the harm being done to our community. The families need help, the Jobs matter, including these jobs.”

Call, email, or text. Ask for a direct response. Hold them accountable for acting like the leaders they promised to be.

We Cannot Afford to Be Silent

Syracuse’s future has always been built by people who came here looking for a better life. That future is threatened when we allow political decisions to dismantle the very programs that make our city thrive.

Seventy jobs are gone. Families are hurting. The question now is whether our Republican leaders, and the voters who support them, will step up when their neighbors need them most.