New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the formation of the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE), modeled after the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency. The commission will review the city's charter to identify ways to cut costs, improve efficiency, and modernize government operations.
Mamdani stated, "New Yorkers deserve a government that works as hard as they do – and a government as careful with their money as they are." He emphasized the need for reforms to enhance the delivery of housing, transit, childcare, and public services. The commission will review the 340-page charter and propose amendments aimed at improving city operations.
The COGE plans to hold ten public hearings across New York City to gather feedback from residents on its proposed changes. Patrick Gaspard, a former adviser in the Obama administration, has been appointed as the commission's chairman, with Ann Cheng proposed to serve as the executive director. This announcement follows Mamdani's decision to dissolve the previous Charter Revision Commission established by former Mayor Eric Adams, which had included many of his allies.
