There’s no greater symbol of America than the Statue of Liberty —but Democrats may soon slam it shut.
Lady Liberty, the shining beacon of freedom for millions, could be left in the dark. Why? Because New York’s Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul says she will not use state funds to keep the Statue of Liberty open during the new government shutdown.
Instead of protecting one of America’s greatest treasures, Hochul is blaming Republicans in Congress—even though it was Senate Democrats who blocked a short-term funding bill that would have kept the government running until November 21.
In a statement, Hochul accused Republicans of “abandoning the people they were elected to represent,” while claiming conservatives slashed billions from healthcare, safety, and food programs.
But here’s the truth: Democrats voted down the stopgap measure. Republicans were ready to extend government operations and buy time for a longer deal.
This isn’t the first time Lady Liberty was used as a political pawn. During the 2018 shutdown, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo stepped up with state resources to keep the monument open. Cuomo declared that New York had a duty to keep America’s beacon of freedom shining for the world.
Hochul? She’s refusing to do the same.
More than 3.7 million visitors came to the Statue of Liberty last year. Closing it down now would devastate small businesses, cost jobs, and send the wrong message to the world—that America’s light can be turned off when Democrats want leverage in Washington.
For hardworking Americans and proud patriots, the question is clear: Why are Democrats more concerned with partisan politics than protecting America’s most iconic symbol of liberty?