Rep. Laura Gillen said she “steadfastly championed government efficiency” and “rooted out waste and corruption” as a town supervisor on Long Island. The town’s operating budget increased by over 30 percent in one year under the New York Democrat, who also helped a campaign donor score a $1.5 billion government contract.
In a February LI Herald column, Gillen—who before joining Congress led the Long Island town of Hempstead—condemned the Department of Government Efficiency’s spending cuts, funding freezes, and firings, but stressed that she supports “efforts to rein in government spending and waste.”
“Throughout my career in public service, I’ve steadfastly championed government efficiency, easing the burden on taxpayers, and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse,” Gillen wrote. “It’s critical that we continue to examine all levels of government for potential savings, and hold our agencies to the highest standards.”
Except Hempstead’s first operating budget under Gillen grew by over $40 million. The 2018 general fund was set under Gillen’s Republican predecessor, Anthony Santino, at $132.3 million. Under Gillen’s leadership the next year, that ballooned to $175.1 million, and added another nearly $770,000 the following year.
Gillen is angling to rewrite her history with government spending as she prepares for a tough reelection in 2026—and as Americans overwhelmingly support DOGE’s mission. Last year, Gillen defeated her Republican opponent, incumbent Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, by 2.4 points in the swing district. A February Harvard CAPS/Harris poll, meanwhile, found that 76 percent of registered voters—including 74 percent of independents—support eliminating government waste and fraud.
In her LI Herald column, Gillen also wrote, “As Hempstead town supervisor, I rooted out waste and corruption.”
But in 2019, she touted her influence in helping deliver a $1.5 billion government contract to RXR Realty Investments, whose chief has donated to Gillen’s campaigns. RXR CEO Scott Rechler contributed nearly $21,500 to Gillen’s local campaign in the months leading up to the 2018 deal. He later donated $2,900 to Gillen’s Democratic primary campaign for Congress in 2022, and his wife gave two contributions of $2,083 for the general election, according to campaign finance filings.
The contract involved renovating the area around the aging Nassau Coliseum with 500 housing units, office buildings, research facilities, and 200,000 square feet for retail businesses. While Nassau County officials were the ones to actually ink the deal with RXR, Gillen described her role as critical.
“It took two Democrats — [Nassau County Executive] Laura Curran and Laura Gillen — to finally get something at the Hub after decades of Republican obstructionism, so I’m glad he’s on board,” Gillen said, according to Newsday, which described her as a “booster” of RXR’s development plan.
The executive director of government watchdog Reinvent Albany, John Kaehny, said the campaign contributions are a classic example of using donations to exert influence.
“It’s standard give and take with big real estate getting big access and big influence,” Kaehny told the New York Post. “The door is open for big donors to buy influence. The people with the money have undue influence. But it’s the law.”
Gillen’s campaign manager at the time, Sarah Carlson, argued that the Democrat “had no authority over the development or contracting process for the coliseum.”
“It was unanimously approved by the Republican-controlled County Legislature, not the Town of Hempstead,” she added.
Gillen did not return a request for comment.
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