Amid a continued influx of migrants to New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has directed every city agency to cut city-funded spending, Adams announced Saturday.
Adams said the cuts will not include layoffs.
"The simple truth is that longtime New Yorkers and asylum seekers will feel these potential cuts, and they will hurt," Adams said.
In a video announcement, the mayor called the influx of migrants arriving in the city "a crisis that will cost our city $12 billion over three fiscal years."
He blamed the federal and state government for causing the city to make this decision.
"These tough decisions are a direct result of inaction in Washington and Albany," Adams said.
City agencies will be asked to submit a plan showing how they can cut costs by 5% for the upcoming November budget update, by another 5% in January's preliminary budget and by a final 5% in April's executive budget, according to the mayor.
On top of budget cuts, Adams said the city is working to reduce costs by moving migrants out of the shelter system.
"New York City cannot bear the burden of this national crisis on our own. But these spending reductions are what will have to happen if we continue on our current course," Adams said. "This is a national crisis that requires national leadership. It's time for our partners to join us."
New York City has opened up more than 200 emergency shelters for more than 110,000 migrants who have arrived. Approximately 10,000 asylum seekers are still arriving each month, according to the city.
In an interview with with Dan Mannarino that aired Sunday morning on “PIX on Politics,” Adams doubled down on his plan, saying the city is facing “a financial tsunami.”
“I’m not going to lie to the people of this city on the danger we’re in right now,” Adams said.
And in an interview on “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart,” Adams once again called on the state to help the city deal with arriving migrants.
“We know how critical this issue is to the city as well as the state of New York. New York City is the economic engine of this entire state and we need a decompression strategy in the state as well as in the city,” Adams said.
In a joint statement, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Committee on Finance Chair Justin Brannan said there is "an urgent need for increased state and federal support to aid the city's response to increased international migration."
"New York City cannot be expected to handle this on our own. The costs are considerable, and it is critical that the city receives more aid, while safeguarding funding that supports New Yorkers. The future of our city and its continued economic recovery relies on the investments we make into our communities and the essential services they rely on," the statement said.
In a post on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, city Comptroller Brad Lander said that "scapegoating asylum seekers will not improve education, public safety, housing affordability, or quality of life for New Yorkers."