Rep. Nadler Issues Statement on Trump Administration Decision to Defund New York Storm Protection Study

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration announcement that the Army Corps of Engineers is cancelling a study examining potential solutions to New York City and regional storm risks, such as another Sandy-level storm:

"The Army Corps' dangerous and inexplicable decision to cancel an in-progress study to improve New York's storm protections is a complete abdication of the agency's mission to reduce the risk of natural disasters.

"Last month, Trump mocked the study and told New Yorkers to get their "mops and buckets ready." Now, he is going even further, putting lives at risk by cancelling the study completely.

"Yet seven years after Superstorm Sandy killed dozens of New Yorkers, destroyed thousands of homes, and caused nearly $20 billion in damages across the city, New York City remains deeply vulnerable to future storm surges and sea level rises. Climate scientists believe that as sea levels continue to rise at an accelerated rate, Sandy-level flooding could occur in New York City as frequently as every 23 years.

"The Army Corps study, which began in 2016, was fully funded by Congress for six years, and sought to devise solutions to these increasingly common extreme weather conditions. The Trump Administration's abrupt decision to pull funding for the study will not only result in millions of wasted taxpayer dollars--it exposes our region to future flooding and devastation. With the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans at stake, I urge the Trump administration to correct this grave misstep and immediately restore funding to this vital study."