New York Governor Kathy Hochul has extended a state-funded healthcare program that provides services to sex workers.

In 2023, the state’s health department awarded $1 million in public funding to two organizations to provide health services for individuals involved in sex work. According to a report by the New York Post, the initiative has now been extended through June 2028 with an additional $1.5 million in funding amounting to $2.5 million total. 

Under the program, sex workers in New York City and Buffalo are eligible to receive primary medical care, sexual health services, behavioral health treatment, and dental care. The funding is administered through the Department of Health’s AIDS Institute. The organizations selected to provide services, Callen-Lorde and EHS Inc./Evergreen Health, will each receive annual payments of $250,000 to operate the program.

“The lengths by which New York Democrats will cater to the far left has no greater example then Gov. Hochul funding healthcare for hookers to the tune of millions while actual frontline healthcare workers… live on food stamps,” said Republican state Assemblyman Michael Novakhov.

“Instead of playing pimp, Kathy ‘Ho-Ho’ Hochul and Mayor ‘Madam’ Mamdani should consider making sure the heroes who answer 911 calls and save lives every day can afford their rent and groceries,” Novakhov added. State Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo also said that Hochul is “absolutely catering” to socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America individuals who have suggested decriminalizing sex work.

“She is a target and trying to keep them at bay [during her re-election bid] with other people’s money,” Pirozzolo said. “The governor likes to say, ‘New York is open for business.’ We are open for business… but it’s the business of selling needles and marijuana,… prostitution and other business that is bad business for New York.”