Schumer is facing heat for suggesting the Trump administration played a role in a deadly Mexican Navy ship crash in NYC. (Getty)
Schumer’s claim drew immediate criticism from conservatives on social media as well as the Department of Homeland Security.
"Minority Leader Schumer’s accusations that a hiring freeze led to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Services not being adequately staffed are FALSE," the official DHS account posted on X.
"The US Coast Guard has been fully supported and been exempt from hiring freezes. Additionally, this incident had nothing to do with Vessel Traffic Services— when a ship loses propulsion in a high current area, the vessel needs to engage all capabilities to stop and ideally tugs are nearby to support. We encourage Minority Leader Schumer to get his facts straight before he misleads the American people."
A Mexican Navy tall ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City over the weekend. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
"He is an idiot," senior counsel to Trump's assistant AG Leo Terrell posted on X.
Fox News Digital reached out to Schumer’s office for comment.
"The U.S. Coast Guard’s New York Vessel Traffic Service was fully functional during the incident, operating in accordance with established procedures to manage commercial traffic and facilitate safe navigation," a Coast Guard spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/schumer-ripped-placing-blame-trump-doge-for-deadly-mexican-navy-crash-in-nyc-idiot