In an extraordinary and controversial move, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed an executive order barring thousands of correctional officers she fired from ever working for the state government again—including county-level positions.
The decision, which has drawn fierce backlash from law enforcement officials and political leaders, comes in the wake of a massive prison workers’ strike that began in February, spurred by worsening conditions inside New York’s prison system.
The strike erupted in response to the implementation of the HALT Act, a Democrat-backed policy that severely restricted the use of solitary confinement. Correctional officers argued that the law had led to a surge in violence behind bars, endangering both prison staff and inmates.
When roughly 15,000 officers began protesting on February 17, Hochul responded with aggressive measures, including stripping health insurance from more than 5,000 workers and ultimately terminating 2,000 officers and sergeants.
Now, with her executive order, Hochul has ensured that these officers won’t simply find new jobs elsewhere in the state, effectively blacklisting them from public service. The move has been met with outrage, with critics calling it not just punitive, but potentially unconstitutional.
Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin was among the first to condemn the order, calling it “reprehensible and vicious.” In a post on X, he declared that he would not comply with Hochul’s mandate, pledging to hire as many former corrections officers as possible. “I dare you to sue me and the individual COs as they seek gainful employment, Hochul,” he wrote.
New York journalist and radio host Bob Lonsberry went even further, calling Hochul a “hateful, vindictive tyrant.” He pointed to the devastating consequences of her decision, not just for the officers, but for their families—many of whom now face financial ruin. “Ask the pregnant women who’ve lost their healthcare, the kids who will lose their homes and schools, the people who’ve lost their pensions and will be impoverished in their last days,” Lonsberry wrote.
The fallout from Hochul’s actions is particularly alarming given the existing crisis within the state’s prison system. Even before the strike, New York prisons were facing critical understaffing, with more than 2,000 vacancies. Now, with an even smaller workforce, the state has resorted to using National Guard troops to fill the gaps.
However, the use of the National Guard has been controversial. Reports indicate that some guardsmen have been sleeping on gym floors due to inadequate accommodations, and concerns have been raised about their lack of proper training for working inside correctional facilities. Republican lawmakers, including State Senators Rob Ortt and Daniel Stec, have also warned that because the National Guard members were activated under state orders rather than federal orders, they may not qualify for Veterans Affairs benefits if injured on duty.