Mexican Navy Ship Crashes Brooklyn Bridge Killing Two, DHS Rebukes Schumer’s Claims

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested that the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its hiring freeze at the Department of Homeland Security may have contributed to a Mexican Navy training ship crashing into the Brooklyn Bridge, resulting in fatalities. He argued that the U.S. Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Service, which functions similarly to air traffic control for waterways, could have been inadequately staffed due to these cuts, potentially impacting water traffic control and national security. However, the Department of Homeland Security strongly refuted these claims, stating that the Coast Guard was fully supported, exempt from hiring freezes, and that the incident was unrelated to Vessel Traffic Services staffing. DHS emphasized that when a ship loses propulsion in a high current area, it must engage all available capabilities and ideally have tug support nearby, framing the accident as a mechanical failure rather than a staffing issue. Schumer’s accusations drew criticism on social media and from federal agencies for misleading the public about the causes of the crash. Both Schumer’s office and DHS did not provide further comments in response to requests for additional information.