New York, Nov 9, 2025: Zohran Mamdani, Mayor-elect of New York City who is set to take office on January 1, 2026, has appointed Pakistani-American legal expert Lina M. Khan as co-head of his interim leadership team.
The 34-year-old Mamdani will be the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor, overseeing an annual budget of approximately $116 billion in a city whose policy decisions carry global significance.
Khan, 36, a former chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), will lead the interim team alongside three experienced City Hall officials.
In a statement, Khan emphasized the importance of creating a city where working-class residents can thrive, calling it an honor to help build a team capable of translating Mamdani’s vision into actionable policies.
During her tenure at the FTC under President Joe Biden, Khan played a key role in antitrust enforcement and consumer protection, closely scrutinizing corporate mergers and taking decisive action against practices that harmed consumers.
Her progressive policies earned widespread praise, though her tough stance against tech giants like Amazon and Google drew criticism in Silicon Valley.