NYC Mayor Mamdani’s racial equity plan draws conservative and DOJ scrutiny

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released the “Citywide Racial Equity Spotlight” on Monday; that plan sparked swift pushback from conservatives online and skepticism from President Donald Trump’s Justice Department; A senior official said he would “look into” the move.

Mamdani’s office explained: Press release He said the preliminary report, which the mayor has promised to release within 100 days in office, showed racial disparities in areas such as housing, education and income, and that the new plan aims to “create a new framework for how New York City measures affordability, understands inequality and plans for a more equitable future.”

“The Real Cost of Living Measure gives an honest account of how much it really costs to live in this city — and who is left behind. This suggests that this is not a crisis affecting a small minority of New Yorkers. “This is a crisis that affects the vast majority of our city, every borough and every neighborhood,” Mamdani said in the press release. he said.

“But we know this crisis is not being felt equally by Black and Latino New Yorkers — Those who have been pushed out of this city for decades — They carry the real burden. The Preliminary Racial Equity Plan is where we will begin to reverse this model. “These reports make one thing clear: We cannot tackle systemic racial inequality without confronting the economic crisis head on, and we cannot solve the cost of living crisis without eliminating systemic racial inequality.”

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Mamdani’s announcement sparked swift backlash from the Trump administration as well as conservatives who expressed concerns about race-based initiatives and spending that the administration has tried to rescind since taking power last year.

“Sounds suspicious/illegal,” DOJ Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon Published on X. “We’ll look into it!”

Conservative influencer account Libs of TikTok “Direct racism against white people” Published on X.

Conservative commentator Paul A. Szypula said, “The truth is that Mamdani implements blatantly racist policies that reward and punish people based on their skin color.” Published on X

The city touted its racial equity plan as “the first time any New York City government has required major city agencies to examine their work through a racial equity lens and identify and eliminate disparities” and said the plan sets goals in seven areas: “Children, Youth, Older Adults, and Families; Economy; Housing and Conservation; Infrastructure and Environment; Health and Wellbeing; Community Safety, Rights, and Accountability; and Good Governance and Inclusive Decision-Making.”

While the report cites a sizable gap in the median net worth of white households compared to Black households, it also reports that Black New Yorkers have a lower life expectancy and suggests that the way to address these gaps is a comprehensive framework that includes more than 200 organization-level goals, over 800 recommended strategies, and nearly 600 performance indicators intended to track progress over time.

“Inequality has been entrenched in the foundation of our city and nation since its inception; dismantling it requires a collective effort,” Afua Atta-Mensah, NYC Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice, said in Monday’s press release. he said.

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“NYC’s Preliminary Citywide Racial Equity Plan reflects the city’s commitment to systemic transformation by putting our values ​​into action. From housing and healthcare to education and infrastructure, every institution plays an essential role in reshaping how government serves New Yorkers. This plan outlines measurable goals and actionable strategies to advance racial equity, promote justice, and create lasting change.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to Mamdani’s office and the Department of Justice for comment.

Mamdani, whose background dates back to his mayoral campaign, has faced intense criticism for his focus on race and “equality.” policy proposal“Stop Squeezing NYC Homeowners” outlined plans to “shift the tax burden from overtaxed homeowners in the outer boroughs to more expensive homes in wealthier, whiter neighborhoods.”

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at the Ramadan Iftar hosted by his team at the New York Taxi Workers Association on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in New York. (Angelina Katsanis/AP)

Mamdani in February faced criticism Through the budget plan, which states that the Office of Racial Equity will receive $5.6 million annually, while the Commission on Racial Equity will be allocated $4.6 million, for a total of $10.2 million. The new figure represents an increase of roughly $3 million (or about a 42% increase) from the approximately $7.2 million allocated last year.

Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report.