The U.S. Coast Guard dismissed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s claim that reforms from the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caused Saturday’s deadly Brooklyn Bridge crash, which killed two passengers.
Schumer suggested the Coast Guard’s operations may have been affected by changes made under DOGE, pointing to potential dysfunction due to a hiring freeze.
However, the Coast Guard countered, stating that the Vehicle Traffic System (VTS) responsible for managing coastal traffic was fully staffed and functional during the incident. They clarified that VTS was operating as usual to ensure safe navigation, coordinating efforts with local authorities in response to the crash.
