Overview

• The Mexican Navy training ship Cuauhtémoc experienced a steering failure on May 17, causing it to collide with the Brooklyn Bridge, killing two cadets and injuring at least 19 others.
• Sen. Chuck Schumer suggested that DOGE-imposed Coast Guard budget cuts may have contributed to the crash, citing potential impacts on staffing and traffic control systems.
• The U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security have firmly denied these claims, stating that the Vessel Traffic Service was fully operational and exempt from hiring freezes.
• Mayor Eric Adams also dismissed Schumer's assertions, affirming that the Coast Guard and New York City's emergency response teams provided a full and effective response.
• The National Transportation Safety Board has deployed a team to investigate the incident, focusing on the mechanical failure and other possible contributing factors.