The City of New York's Committees on Finance and Hospitals convened on May 26, 2025, for a crucial Executive Budget Hearing focused on the fiscal year 2026. The meeting featured testimony from various stakeholders, including community leaders advocating for increased funding to support marginalized groups.

Matteo Guerrero, the Trans Justice Leadership Program Manager at Make the Road New York, addressed the council, highlighting urgent concerns regarding the budget's impact on transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. Guerrero emphasized the escalating threats these communities face from federal policies aimed at rolling back healthcare protections and undermining civil rights. He pointed out that marginalized groups, particularly Black and brown, migrant, and low-income youth, are disproportionately affected by these challenges.

Guerrero urged the city council to make significant investments in health, housing, and safety for transgender and gender expansive communities. He proposed three key funding initiatives:

1. **Trans Equity Fund**: Guerrero called for the full funding of the Trans Equity Fund at $10 million, an increase from the current $3.25 million. He argued that this funding is essential to address disparities in health, housing, and employment for transgender individuals and should be directed to trans-led organizations.

2. **Healthcare Provider Support**: He requested an allocation of $15 million to protect healthcare providers offering gender-affirming care, which are currently under threat from federal policy changes. Guerrero stressed the importance of maintaining access to culturally competent care for transgender individuals.

3. **Support for Unhoused Youth**: Guerrero also advocated for $10 million to support providers caring for runaway and unhoused transgender and queer youth, noting that many young people are forced out of their homes and into precarious situations.

In closing, Guerrero emphasized that the budget reflects the city's values regarding equity and inclusion. He urged the council to act decisively and prioritize the needs of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, particularly migrants, who have long been marginalized.

The hearing underscored the critical need for the city to respond to the challenges faced by vulnerable communities as it prepares its budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The discussions highlighted the importance of aligning financial resources with the pressing needs of those most affected by systemic inequities.