Wu says Boston is ‘not doing a hiring freeze’ or ‘mass layoffs’ in response to federal funding threats

Boston is just not contemplating a hiring freeze or mass layoffs as town leans down its funds in response to uncertainty about federal funding, Mayor Michelle Wu mentioned in a WCVB phase Sunday.

“Because of all the federal uncertainty, we have to both maintain and cut back,” Wu mentioned on the On the Report phase aired Sunday. “Cut vacancies, jobs that haven’t been filled in a long time, but also don’t jump ahead to say we’re assuming that the worst for sure will happen, because that will lead to cutting city services that are needed now more ever.”

Wu, who introduced her reelection marketing campaign on Saturday, was requested about reviews town might lower 2,000 as uncertainty grows about Boston’s federal funding streams beneath the Trump administration. The mayor responded Boston is “not doing a hiring freeze, and we are not doing mass layoffs.”

Boston reportedly receives about $300 million in federal funding. Town’s fiscal yr 2025 funds is $4.64 billion.

Boston Public Colleges misplaced about $3.5 million of leftover COVID-era federal funding in a Division of Schooling determination final week.

Wu mentioned town funds is “preparing for the worst.” Together with slicing vacancies, the mayor mentioned there will probably be no new head depend, no new positions created, and cuts to non-personnel value like provides and gear.

“Protecting the city workforce is really important to deliver the services that people need,” mentioned Wu. “And so we are maintaining what we have, really fighting to prioritize the jobs that are critical to making sure streets are clean, people are safe, schools are well-funded and can deliver for our young people, while not jumping ahead.”

Requested if “staying in the cross hairs of the Trump administration hurts the city of Boston,” Wu mentioned she “can’t stay silent when it comes to what our residents need here.”

The Boston mayor additionally spoke on new techniques reportedly being utilized by immigration officers within the metropolis.

“What is different is we are hearing reports of federal agents coming in, committing property damage, smashing windshields, snatching people off the street who have no criminal record whatsoever, threatening,” mentioned Wu. “We have heard some anecdotal reports of people being stopped in the street and just asked for papers based on how they look. And the worst part of all is that we can’t verify this.”