Mayor Mamdani Reverses Adams’ Plan to Expand NYPD by 5,000 Officers
Zohran Mamdani speaks at a campaign rally at the NAN House of Justice in Harlem, June 28, 2025.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reversed a previous plan under former Mayor Eric Adams to expand the NYPD by 5,000 officers. Mamdani lowered the city’s police force cap back to 35,000 officers, while the department currently has about 34,000 on staff.
Despite the change, the NYPD’s $6.4 billion budget remains largely unchanged, according to FOX 5 NY political reporter Morgan McKay. Mamdani explained that the city had long added responsibilities to the police, and he wants to focus resources more efficiently rather than increasing the force.
This budget announcement is part of Mamdani’s first preliminary city budget, which aims to address New York’s multibillion-dollar deficit. The mayor is also proposing a 9.5% increase in property taxes, the first significant hike in over two decades, to help close the budget gap.
“For too long, the city has added additional responsibilities on to the NYPD,” Mamdani said. “There is one tax the city can raise. It is a broken property tax system. We do not want to do so lightly.”
The preliminary budget provides New Yorkers with an early look at the mayor’s fiscal priorities, including funding for city services and proposals for tax adjustments.
