New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has launched a Commission on Government Efficiency, or COGE, drawing comparisons to the federal DOGE initiative led by Elon Musk. The mayor said Thursday that the commission will review the entire New York City Charter and develop recommendations for improving government efficiency, modernizing city services, and removing what he called "outdated bureaucratic barriers." The 10-member commission includes progressive activists and Democratic operatives but notably excludes Republican appointees.
Patrick Gaspard, named as COGE chair, previously served as executive director of the Democratic National Committee and president of George Soros's Open Society Foundation from 2017 to 2020. He also worked as a senior adviser to former President Barack Obama. The commission will hold public hearings across New York's five boroughs before presenting proposals to voters on the November ballot.
What the Left Is Saying
Mamdani framed the commission as an effort to make government work better for working people. "New Yorkers deserve a city government as careful with their money as they are," he said in a statement. He added that "for too long, bureaucracy has stood in the way of delivering the housing, transit, child care and public services our city needs."
Gaspard offered his own rationale for the commission's work. "New Yorkers deserve and need a government of the possible — one that can urgently build infrastructure, promote small business growth, and make the city more livable with accessible childcare and affordable groceries," he said in a statement announcing his appointment.
Commission member Susan Kang, who serves on the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, is among those tasked with reviewing the city charter. Theodore Moore, executive director of ALIGN, a progressive advocacy organization focused on worker power and climate justice, will also serve on the commission. The city stated that COGE aims to modernize government operations, improve budget practices, and give agencies more flexibility in delivering services.
What the Right Is Saying
Joe Borelli, a former Republican New York City councilmember who has advocated for city government reform, questioned his exclusion from the commission on social media, writing: "How haven't I been appointed to this already" in a post directed at the mayor's official account.
Borelli told Fox News Digital that as Mamdani pursues what he called "socialist governance," the administration is encountering fiscal realities. "They are realizing that there needs to be a constant source of revenue to pay for all," Borelli said. He argued that the effort reveals contradictions in the administration's approach: "Ironically, they are coming to see that it's big government that stands in the way of most economic growth."
No Republicans were appointed to the 10-member commission. Critics have noted the absence of any opposition party representation on a panel expected to produce ballot proposals affecting all New Yorkers.
What the Numbers Show
The source article does not provide specific budget figures, staffing levels, or performance metrics for New York City's government operations. According to publicly available data from prior administrations, New York City has faced ongoing challenges with infrastructure project timelines and agency coordination. The commission's scope includes reviewing the entire NYC Charter — the city's foundational governing document — a review that occurs periodically but carries significant implications for municipal governance structure.
The city stated that COGE will examine budget reserve practices, enforcement tools for agencies, and service delivery mechanisms across all five boroughs. Specific savings targets or efficiency metrics have not yet been announced.
The Bottom Line
Mamdani's commission represents the latest iteration of government efficiency efforts in major American cities, drawing explicit comparison to the federal DOGE model while staffing the panel with progressive allies rather than a bipartisan group. The initiative will proceed through public hearings over the coming months before any proposals reach voters in November. How COGE's recommendations differ from traditional municipal reform efforts — and whether they can attract support beyond the Democratic coalition — will be among the questions observers watch as the process unfolds.