NY Gov Hochul CAVES After Multiple County Officials Defied Her Orders Over Fired Correctional Officers

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is pulling back from a sweeping order to ban striking correctional officers from working for the state after multiple county officials vowed open defiance and legal action.

Key Facts:

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed Executive Order 47.3 on March 10, seeking to ban around 2,000 correctional officers from future employment with the state.
The targeted officers had protested unsafe prison conditions tied to the HALT Act, which limits solitary confinement.
Counties including Chemung, Oneida, and Rensselaer opposed the order, with some filing lawsuits or pledging outright noncompliance.
The New York State Sheriffs’ Association and several county executives slammed the move as unconstitutional overreach.
Hochul’s administration is now walking back the order, which expires April 9, and may allow the officers to be re-certified at the county level.

The Rest of The Story:

Governor Hochul’s March executive order sought to permanently bar thousands of correctional officers—many of whom participated in work stoppages—from being rehired by any state-run agency.

The policy appeared to be retaliation for protests over prison safety concerns fueled by the controversial HALT Act.

But her plan hit a wall when county officials pushed back.

Chemung County sued, calling the order illegal and harmful to jail staffing.

Oneida County’s legislature passed a resolution to sue the state, arguing it infringed on local authority.

Rensselaer County’s executive pledged to defy the ban entirely, calling it a direct attack on local control.

Just when you think Hochul can't get worse, she finds a way. Preventing Corrections Officers from seeking employment with counties is reprehensible and vicious but that's exactly who Kathy Hochul is. This action by vindictive witch @GovKathyHochul is an unnecessary retribution… pic.twitter.com/7Sd4PTnEuI

— Steve McLaughlin (@SteveMcNY) March 11, 2025

Reports now say Hochul’s team is backing down.

While she insists former officers won’t return to state jobs, they will likely be allowed to pursue re-certification for county roles.

Commentary:

This story is a reminder that even in a state as deep blue as New York, local leaders can still make a difference—if they’re willing to take a stand.

Governor Hochul tried to use the power of her office to punish correctional officers for protesting unsafe conditions created by her own policies.

She hoped a sweeping executive order would intimidate counties into submission.

Instead, they pushed back—legally and vocally.

Chemung, Oneida, and Rensselaer counties didn’t just complain—they acted.

They invoked their legal right to home rule and reminded Albany that county governments aren’t just branch offices of the state.

These leaders weren’t looking for a fight, but they weren’t going to let their jails fall apart because of a political stunt.

Democrat governors like Hochul often push executive power to the brink.

From emergency orders to mandates and regulatory overreach, there’s a long track record of stretching the law to achieve political goals.

But when local officials stand their ground, that power starts to unravel.

This wasn’t just about jail staffing.

It was about control.

Hochul tried to dictate who counties could hire, and in doing so, exposed how thin her authority is when counties refuse to play along.

Her quiet retreat shows that state-level bluster only works when local leaders comply.

The message is clear: state power has limits.

And if more counties followed this example, those limits would be tested more often.

The Bottom Line:

Governor Hochul attempted to blacklist striking correctional officers through an executive order, but county-level resistance forced her to pull back.

Local lawsuits and public defiance exposed how overreaching and politically motivated her move really was.

This is a win for local government and a reminder that, even in solid-blue states, state-level overreach can be challenged—and defeated.