The heart of our work lies in the vibrant communities of NY-14. See below for ways our office is helping constituents navigate federal agencies and bring resources back to the district.

Advancement Opportunities for New Air Traffic Controllers

Last week, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-03) hosted a press conference to celebrate Vaughn’s admission into the Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) program that will make our skies safer and allow Vaughn students to get critical air traffic control training right here in NY-14.

The FAA is more than 3,000 certified controllers short of full staffing, and personnel at many facilities are working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks. When a handful of air traffic controllers took trauma leave after a major tech outage at Newark, it limited the number of flights the airport was able to handle safely.

Vaughn’s entry into this program means that more New Yorkers and people living on the East Coast who want to become air traffic controllers can do it without moving to a different part of the country. Our nation is in desperate need of additional air traffic controllers, especially in the New York airspace, and this initiative is part of the larger effort to improve and modernize our air traffic control system.

2025 Congressional App Challenge 

The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition hosted by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Every year, middle and high school students are invited to create a software application and submit their entries to our office. The winner is recognized by the office and invited to a reception in Washington, D.C.

Registration for the 2025 Congressional App Challenge is now open, and the competition deadline is October 30th, 2025 at 12:00 pm ET.

This month, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez spoke about the dangerous impacts of Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ during debate on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The legislation, which was officially signed into law on July 4th, makes drastic cuts to health care, food assistance, student loans, and energy credits in order to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest people on the planet. 

Challenging the Senate Rescissions Package and Cuts to Public Broadcasting and Foreign Aid Programs

This past month, Republicans voted to approve a rescissions package that includes severe cuts to public broadcasting and foreign aid programs. Specifically, the bill cuts $7 billion in previously approved funding for foreign humanitarian aid and economic  programs and all federal funding for NPR, PBS, and their local affiliates, including BronxNet, Queens Public Television, and New York Public Radio. This means local news coverage and access to educational and emergency information will be significantly reduced or eliminated entirely. 

Introducing Legislation to Impose Lifetime Ban on Lobbying

The “revolving door” from public service to corporate lobbying firms enables far too many members of Congress to focus on cashing-in on high-paying lobbying jobs, rather than representing their working class constituents in Washington, DC. This month, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02) co-led the Close the Revolving Door Act of 2025, legislation that would impose a lifetime ban on former Members of Congress from becoming lobbyists. 

Service Academy Opportunities for Students

The Service Academy application period is now open. Applications require a nomination from your representative or Senator and are due by November 1, 2025. If you are a NY-14 student interested in applying, learn more here.

Internships in The Office of Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez offers internships in both her Washington D.C. and District offices. Interns work with staff to serve the constituents of New York’s 14th Congressional district, and our goal is to provide each intern with a meaningful experience that will enhance their understanding of Congress. The internship application can be accessed here.

Updating Your Passport’s Gender Marker

Due to a U.S. District Court’s decision last month, the State Department is honoring requests to update the gender marker on passport applications for the time being. To request this update, the State Department requires an attestation form along with your passport application.

Review full State Department guidance on sex markers in passports here.

Please contact our office if you have any questions or experience any delays.

Temporary Protected Status Terminations

The Trump Administration has terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for several countries, including Haiti, Venezuela (2023 designation), Afghanistan, Cameroon, Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Some of these terminations are subject to pending litigation, so it is important that you stay informed about each country’s specific TPS designation and end dates. 

If you have any questions related to your immigration status, you can contact the New York State Office for New Americans Hotline to request a legal consultation at (800)-566-7636.

Changes to Federal Public Benefits

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a notice to add immigration status verification for federally funded programs such as Head Start and the Health Center Program.

The agency is currently accepting feedback, leaving space for people to express their views and provide information to better inform the agency's decision-making process. To submit a response, click the “Comment” button inside Docket: AHRQ-2025-0002 and follow all instructions.

The deadline to submit a public comment is August 13, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

In service,

The Office of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez