Announcing Maria Torres-Springer & Randy Moore at the 2025 NYCETC Conference

The federal government shut down at midnight after Congress failed to reach a deal on funding. There is uncertainty about how long the shutdown could last, with the White House budget office directing agencies to prepare for widespread furloughs. While political leaders remain at an impasse, the consequences will be felt immediately by workers, families, and the frontline organizations they rely on. In the wake of this news, the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals, the New York City Employment and Training Coalition, and the United Way of New York State have issued the following joint statement:

“A government shutdown doesn’t just freeze federal workers’ paychecks — it ripples across the entire workforce and nonprofit sector. Frontline organizations, already stretched thin, are forced to do more with less as demand for basic services spikes. Rising rents, food insecurity, and healthcare costs already squeeze families. Withdrawing federal funds from the system exacerbates the affordability crisis and leaves vulnerable New Yorkers with nowhere to turn.

When contracts and grants stall, shelter staff, case managers, child welfare professionals, and other nonprofit workers face layoffs, program closures, or impossible choices between serving more people with fewer resources. New York’s nonprofit sector, which delivers critical services in every community across the state, cannot absorb these shocks on its own. An already stagnant labor market will face deeper strain amid a prolonged government shutdown and mounting economic uncertainty.

As leaders of the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals, the New York City Employment and Training Coalition, and the United Way of New York State, we call upon Congress to act immediately to end this shutdown and pass a federal budget that protects workers and ensures that vital services are available to those who need them. The success of our economy and the well-being of our communities demands nothing less.”

A few weeks ago, news broke of widespread fraud targeting SYEP payment cards. In our initial statement, and in recent media interviews, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris underscored that this situation does not reflect a flaw in SYEP’s programmatic design or in the dedication of the professionals who bring it to life each summer. Instead, it was the result of intentional exploitation by bad actors who capitalized on gaps in existing financial protections.

Our message remains firm: SYEP deserves sustained investment, coupled with a thorough investigation into what happened, clear public reporting, and meaningful consequences for those involved. Moving forward, that also means reinforcing financial safeguards and expanding accessible, relevant financial education for the young people the program serves.

Looking Forward

Despite this setback, the success and impact of SYEP remain undeniable. We are confident that next year, and for many years to come, the program will continue to deliver on its promise of connecting young adults to good jobs and bright futures.

In the News

NY1 Segment – “I’m hoping that a really bad circumstance doesn’t impact this program in the long term because young adults need access to good jobs and good opportunities — SYEP has done that for 60 years.”

The CITY – Summer Jobs Program Heist Likely Had Hacker Help, Say ATM Experts “The providers that I know were excited about the summer. They were accomplishing interesting, valuable, meaningful things, putting young people to work on their first job pathways, and this was surprising, concerning, frustrating.”

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