Overview
- On Thursday, May 28, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the Commission on Government Efficiency, or COGE, and scheduled a public kickoff for June 4 with the first borough hearing on June 9.
- Mamdani used a state budget provision to formally let the Adams‑appointed charter commission expire in a notice filed on May 27, nullifying its appointments and proposed revisions.
- The 15‑member COGE is led by chair Patrick Gaspard with Ann Cheng proposed as executive director and will review the 340‑page city charter and hold 10 hearings across the five boroughs to gather public input.
- City Hall says COGE will focus on modernization and improving service delivery rather than broad cuts, but reporters and commentators immediately compared the effort to the Trump administration’s DOGE and critics warn it could lead to service reductions.
- The administration has already directed chief savings officers to identify small agency savings such as vacating unused office space and canceling subscriptions, but advocates warn the modest near‑term gains may not close the city’s budget gap and legal challenges from Adams’ allies are likely.