Hochul convened a cabinet meeting late last week to discuss the impacts of President Donald Trump’s budget-and-policy package. The governor said on MSNBC last week that the cuts for the rest of 2025 come to about $750 million and increase to about $3 billion in 2026 in programs that include health care and SNAP benefits.

“We have to make up $750 million right now. I’m saying, “Go back to your agencies, find some cuts, find out what we can save some money.” Next year, I have a $3 billion cut. We’ll get together with the Legislature, try to work it out, but this is grotesquely unfair, not just to the states, but to the people we serve,” Hochul said.

At least one member of the state Senate, however, is calling on Hochul to make significant changes to the state’s budget. Sen. Mark Walczyk, R-Watertown, introduced legislation in March that would have established a Commission on Government Efficiency in New York to find ways to cut the state’s budget. While S.4959 didn’t move out of committee before the end of the legislative session in June, Walczyk says the state’s spending problem isn’t being caused by federal policy, it’s being caused by the state’s own decisions.

“Instead of scrambling to fill the $750 million hole, the real question is why are we in this situation at all?” Walczyk said on Monday. “New York’s financial woes stem not from the decisions of the federal Congress and President Trump, but from a bloated budget and corrupt process completely out of line with the needs of real New Yorkers.”

Governor Kathy Hochul is pictured with U.S. Representative Pat Ryan, D-Buffalo, during a news conference protesting federal spending cuts last week.

Walczyk said his proposed commission would bring transparency to a state budget process Republicans have long criticized for being too closed to review, with budget bills often distributed at the last minute and then voted on with a Message of Necessity from the governor’s office to bypass review periods established in the state Constitution.

The Watertown Republican was critical of Democrats’ decision to increase the state’s film tax credit to $800 million, double the program’s cost in 2023, a $1 billion increase to NYSERDA for green energy projects and $3 billion for inflation rebate checks that will soon be sent to state residents.

“Gimmicky rebate checks and more grants for green energy consultants in California won’t right the ship financially in New York and residents are tired of the political games played with their hard-earned money. I know it’s easy – and politically expedient – for them to point the finger at Washington but come on; look in the mirror. Time for New York COGE,” Walczyk said.

Hochul, meanwhile, has been a vocal opponent of the president’s federal budget. She has said federal cuts include an anticipated almost $13 billion impact to New York’s health care system, 1.5 million New Yorkers losing their health insurance coverage, and over 300,000 households projected to lose some or all of their SNAP benefits.

“While Republicans in Washington callously slash funding for vital programs across the country, my administration is standing up for New Yorkers to soften the blow of these cuts amidst an affordability crisis,” Hochul said. “President Trump’s devastating ‘Big Ugly Bill’ will inflict harm across the state, leaving detrimental gaps in funding and families without the crucial benefits and coverage that they need. New York State remains laser-focused on ensuring New Yorkers have access to resources and support necessary to uplift them and their families.”