Funding Cuts, Airline Safety, and Higher Costs for Granite Staters: Ayotte is Missing in Action

Contact: Ryan Mahoney, ryan@amplifynh.org

Funding Cuts, Airline Safety, and Higher Costs for Granite Staters: Ayotte is Missing in Action

MANCHESTER, NH — It has been five days since the Office of Management and Budget issued a blanket freeze on federal grant and loan funds. In the days following, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction to halt the freeze, the White House rescinded the memo, “clarified” that rescinding the memo did not mean withdrawing the freeze, and faces another federal judge weighing a restraining order on the Executive Order. Amidst this chaos and confusion, Governor Kelly Ayotte has not held a single press conference addressing concerns or answering questions, nor has she relayed any details or clarification she has gotten from the Trump Administration she pledges loyalty to and claims to have a relationship with.

On Wednesday evening, a deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C. occurred amidst reports of “not normal” staffing levels at the DCA control tower after President Trump gutted the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, forced the Federal Aviation Administration chief’s resignation at Elon Musk’s request just one year into a five year term, froze federal hiring, and cajoled federal workers to resign. This comes after 15 years of no U.S. commercial aviation fatalities, including during the Biden Administration.

This morning, the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, which operates American Airlines flights through PSA Airlines, the airline involved in Wednesday’s accident, continued to suspend flights despite DCA in Washington, D.C. reopening for service. Once again, Governor Kelly Ayotte’s leadership is absent in advocating for a review of FAA leadership decisions by the Trump Administration, a lift on the federal hiring freeze to ensure the FAA control towers are properly staffed to keep Granite Staters safe, or updates regarding safety concerns that compelled MHT to continue suspended service.

“New Hampshire families deserve leadership and stability in times of crisis, not silence. While chaos unfolds in Washington and critical flights remain grounded at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, Governor Ayotte has been nowhere to be found,” said Amplify New Hampshire Executive Director Ryan Mahoney. “Why is she hiding? Maybe because her refusal to stand up to the Trump Administration’s reckless policies—or even provide Granite Staters with basic information—shows a stunning lack of leadership. At a time when lives are at stake and our services are on the line, Governor Ayotte’s stunning failure to advocate for and reassure Granite Staters is unacceptable. Even Chris Sununu handled crisis better. When New Hampshire was impacted by COVID he held daily briefings to the press and public. What happened to following the “Sununu Path?”

Amidst the federal funding freeze, Ayott has been unable to deliver any clear assurances for New Hampshire, including:

• Neglecting to protect the $1.5 million in federal COPS grant funding to keep officers on the street protecting our communities, despite a fear-mongering campaign on crime

• Failing to protect 184,000 Granite Staters on Medicaid who had their portal shut down

• Reinstatement of $16 million in Head Start funding for New Hampshire preschoolers

• Proving unable to defend the $14 million in federal funding to combat homelessness or done anything to protect VA benefits

• Refusing to join a lawsuit with other governors to sue the federal government to protect New Hampshire against these unconstitutional freeze

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About Amplify New Hampshire

Amplify New Hampshire is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization founded to keep Granite Staters informed of the decisions made in local, state, and federal government that will impact their lives and empower them to enact change. For more information, visit amplifynh.org.