Trump Threatens Funding Cuts After Mamdani’s Historic NYC Win

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Thursday, November 6th, 2025

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NEW YORK, Nov. 6 — Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani made history Tuesday as the first openly progressive socialist elected Mayor of New York City, but his victory was quickly overshadowed by sharp warnings from President Donald Trump, who threatened to withhold billions in federal funds from the city.
Trump, a former Manhattan resident, posted on Truth Social that if Mamdani “the Communist Candidate” took office, he would limit federal funding to “the bare minimum,” claiming New York would face “a complete and total economic and social disaster.” The president’s remarks came just days after he urged voters to support independent candidate and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, portraying Mamdani as unqualified and extreme.
New York City currently receives about $7.4 billion in federal funding, or roughly 6.4 percent of its total budget, according to the New York State Comptroller’s Office. Federal support is vital for education, housing, and social services — including over $2 billion for the Department of Education and $1.5 billion for the Department of Social Services. Agencies such as Housing Preservation and Development depend on federal contributions for up to half of their annual budgets.
While legal experts note that Congress controls federal spending, the president could still obstruct certain grants or contracts. “They can simply refuse to renew or fulfill agreements,” warned Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum.
For his part, Mamdani dismissed the threats as “political theatrics,” saying, “A president’s threats are not the law. New Yorkers chose progress and dignity, and that mandate stands.”
The mayor-elect is expected to take office in January 2026 amid tense relations with Washington.