Mexican Navy Ship Crashes into Brooklyn Bridge, Schumer’s DOGE Claim Debunked

A tragic collision between the Mexican navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc and the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night left two dead and 19 injured, sparking a heated debate over accountability. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed fingers at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), suggesting its hiring freeze at the Department of Homeland Security may have crippled the U.S. Coast Guard’s Vehicle Traffic System (VTS), a critical navigation tool for congested waters like New York Harbor.

Schumer, in a Sunday press release, claimed the VTS might have been understaffed or malfunctioning, potentially contributing to the crash. He called for urgent answers, warning that the incident could signal broader national safety concerns. But the Coast Guard swiftly pushed back, asserting the VTS was fully operational during the incident, with no other ships involved that would have required its intervention.

The Cuauhtémoc, a majestic training vessel, lost power before slamming into the iconic bridge, an event captured in dramatic footage showing crew members clinging to the rigging. New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the casualties, noting two of the injured remain in critical condition. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed condolences, with Mexican authorities now assisting the affected families.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has deployed a team to investigate, while the Coast Guard, NYPD, FDNY, and NYC DOT coordinated a rapid response, including a temporary safety zone around the site. As investigations unfold, questions linger about what caused the ship’s power failure and whether preventive measures failed.