New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani proposed canceling plans to hire 5,000 additional police officers in his first preliminary budget. Before leaving office, former Mayor Eric Adams had proposed the New York Police Department (NYPD) add 300 officers in July 2026, growing to 2,500 by July 2027 and eventually reaching 5,000 additional officers annually by July 2028.
Mamdani’s budget outlines the cancellation of all orders signed by Adams following his Sept. 26, 2024, indictment. Among the terminated plans was the expansion of NYPD staffing levels. Under Mamdani’s approach, the department would cap its force near current levels of approximately 35,000 officers, down from the projected 40,000 under Adams’ proposal.
The preliminary FY 2027 budget also emphasizes “significantly reducing current vacancies,” which could involve cutting NYPD funding based on unfilled positions. The mayor’s administration noted a $22 million reduction in the NYPD’s $6.4 billion budget for next year. During a Tuesday news conference, Mamdani described New York City as inheriting a “historic budget gap” and stated his team had lowered the deficit from $12 billion to $5.4 billion while acknowledging a “significant chasm” remained. He asserted the city could “overcome” its fiscal challenges through nonrecurring solutions.
Mamdani has advanced tax proposals targeting wealthy individuals, corporations, and property taxes—potentially raising residential property taxes by 9.5% as an emergency measure. Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry countered that NYPD staffing levels have declined despite rising budgets, stating: “Public safety must be a priority.”
The budget allocates $31 million for NYPD security costs tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup; $94 million for the Domain Awareness System (surveillance cameras and drones); $54 million for IT maintenance; and $44 million for emergency vehicle replacement. The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice budget would rise from $798 million to $810 million next year, partly due to $26 million allocated annually for hate crime prevention. Meanwhile, the Civilian Complaint Review Board budget remains stable at roughly $29 million. District attorney funding would decline as state and federal resources shrink, though the city increases its own contributions.