New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE), a charter revision commission that will review the entire New York City Charter, gather public input, and propose amendments to improve government operations. The city’s Mayor’s Office announced the commission on May 28, 2026.
Mamdani has asserted that COGE is not a reference to Elon Musk’s federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from early in President Trump’s second administration. He criticized Musk for using public demand for efficiency as a “justification” to cut services.
The commission replaces former Mayor Eric Adams’ Charter Revision Commission, which Mamdani described as a “relic” of the prior administration. The COGE panel is designed to examine efficiency, government modernization, agency authority, enforcement tools, flexibility for city agencies, savings practices, reserve practices, and budget management.
The process includes 10 public hearings across all five boroughs before proposals are sent to voters in November. Patrick Gaspard serves as chair and Ann Cheng as the proposed executive director. The first public meeting is set for June 4 at 5 p.m., with the first hearing on June 9 at 5 p.m.
Gaspard’s background includes positions at the Center for American Progress, the Democratic National Committee, the Open Society Foundation (a George Soros operation), and 1199SEIU Healthcare Workers East. He previously served as U.S. Ambassador to South Africa and held roles in the Obama administration.
Critics note that COGE consists of 16 members who are close allies of Mamdani, with expertise in business, housing, government accountability, city politics, and the city’s power structure. Good-government groups have raised alarms about the commission’s political intentions and the compressed timeline for charter amendments to appear on the November ballot.
Mamdani has denied that COGE is a deliberate play on Musk’s DOGE, despite his criticism of Musk’s federal efficiency initiative and his assertion that many Americans care about government efficiency.