Warren, Schumer Urge EXIM Chair to Keep NY Regional Export Finance Center Open

Warren, Schumer Urge EXIM Chair to Keep NY Regional Export Finance Center Open

"By closing this office, EXIM is undermining its operational capacity by diminishing its ability to provide direct engagement and support to key partners: financial institutions and exporters in one of the world's largest trade and finance markets."

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sent a letter to President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) John Jovanovic urging that he immediately reverse the decision to close the Bank's Regional Export Finance Center in New York City that serves ten states and thousands of American small and medium-sized businesses.

In the letter, the Senators underscored that EXIM has failed to justify closing the office: "Based on information provided to AFGE Local 2211, the proposed closure is related to insufficient production and the overall cost of maintaining the office. EXIM, however, has provided no substantive analysis to justify the closure, and the assertion of insufficient production is contradicted by the office employees' significant contributions to the Bank's operations."

The Senators criticized EXIM for refusing to explain why the New York office was selected for closure while other regional offices are being maintained: "At present, EXIM has refused to provide that documentation: first the Bank's leadership asserted they were 'reviewing charts for possible disclosure,' but then they stated their decision to close the office was 'within [their] managerial discretion,' so, they were 'not obliged to provide any further explanation.'"

The Senators also expressed concern that EXIM may be motivated to close the New York Regional Office on the basis of the troubled history between the Bank and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2211.

"During President Trump's first term, EXIM repeatedly challenged AFGE's representation of workers at the Bank, including the union's representation of employees in the New York Regional Office," wrote the Senators. "Given this troubled history, we are concerned that EXIM's motive to close the New York Regional Office may be part of a punitive effort to force the relocation of two officers in the New York office who belong to AFGE Local 2211."

"[I]n an effort to understand EXIM's analysis and justification to close the New York City office, provide responses to the below requests no later than July 8, 2026," concluded the Senators.

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