House Republicans are locked in a bitter feud over whether to yank federal funding from New York City following the election of socialist mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. This isn’t just a policy spat; it’s a full-on family fight within the GOP, pitting defenders of the Big Apple against those itching to punish what they see as a dangerous leftward lurch. And at the heart of it is a bill that’s as provocative as a Times Square billboard.
The clash centers on Rep. Buddy Carter’s (R-Ga.) introduction of the Moving American Money Distant from Anti-National Interests Act, dubbed the MAMDANI Act, aimed at blocking federal funds to NYC in response to Mamdani’s victory, which saw him sweep Brooklyn, parts of the Bronx, Queens, and Manhattan, though Staten Island opted for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
First, let’s rewind to the election results that sparked this firestorm. Mamdani, a self-described socialist, clinched the mayoral race, but not without controversy, as leaked documents suggest the Democratic Socialists of America’s local chapter plans to steer him toward a fiercely anti-Israel agenda. That’s a red flag for many conservatives who already view his progressive policies with suspicion.
Enter Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, the sole Republican representing a NYC borough in Congress, hailing from Staten Island, and she’s not mincing words. She’s slamming her party’s push to defund the city, arguing it’s a blunt instrument that punishes hardworking taxpayers for the choices of a divided electorate. After all, nearly half the city didn’t even vote for Mamdani.
“Attempts by Congressman Buddy Carter to strip New York City of all its funding are ludicrous and a slap in the face to the hardworking taxpayers of this city, half of whom did not even support Zohran Mamdani for mayor,” Malliotakis declared. Well, she’s got a point—NYC is already one of the most heavily taxed places in the nation, and slashing funds feels like adding insult to injury for folks who just want to pay their bills, not fund a socialist experiment.
But let’s not forget Malliotakis didn’t back Mamdani or Cuomo in the race, throwing her support behind Republican Curtis Sliwa, who barely scraped 10% of the vote. That’s a tough pill for conservatives to swallow, showing just how out of step the GOP is with much of NYC’s electorate. Still, Malliotakis is digging in, vowing to protect her city from both radical policies and punitive GOP measures.
On the other side of the aisle—well, the same aisle, technically—is Rep. Buddy Carter, who’s spearheading the MAMDANI Act, introduced during a pro forma House session on a Friday while Congress has been stalled by a nearly 50-day government shutdown. This isn’t the first iteration of the bill; Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) floated an earlier version in July to study the impact of government-run grocery stores, a pet project of Mamdani’s. Carter’s version, though, goes for the jugular, aiming to cut off federal dollars entirely.
“She and I agree: Taxpayers shouldn’t bankroll a socialist or communist agenda,” Carter said of Malliotakis, doubling down on his stance. Nice try at unity, but this bill isn’t exactly a love letter to bipartisanship—it’s more like an eviction notice for NYC’s federal support, and many see it as overreach, especially when billions for projects like the Second Avenue subway and Hudson Tunnel are already frozen amid the shutdown.
Let’s not pretend this is new territory for NYC and federal funding battles. Earlier this year, the Trump administration pulled $187 million in counterterrorism funds from the city, only to reverse course later. It’s a reminder that the Big Apple often finds itself in the crosshairs when national politics gets heated.
Go back to the summer of 2020, and you’ll recall the Black Lives Matter protests that spiraled into riots, prompting then-Attorney General Bill Barr and budget director Russ Vought to scrutinize taxpayer funding to so-called “anarchist” jurisdictions like NYC, Portland, and Seattle. That episode showed how quickly federal dollars can become a political football when ideology clashes with governance. Sound familiar?
Meanwhile, Gov. Kathy Hochul, who endorsed Mamdani, is catching flak from Republican gubernatorial hopeful Elise Stefanik, though Hochul clarified on a Saturday that she doesn’t align with the Democratic Socialists of America. It’s a messy web of alliances and disavowals, but it underscores how Mamdani’s win has rattled cages far beyond City Hall.
NYC isn’t just a policy battleground; it’s a fundraising goldmine for Republicans, hosting countless events to fill campaign coffers. So, isn’t it a bit rich for some GOP lawmakers to bite the hand that feeds their war chests? Malliotakis certainly thinks so, and she’s not shy about calling out the hypocrisy.
Here’s the rub: conservatives are right to be wary of Mamdani’s agenda, especially with whispers of extreme policy shifts on the horizon. But defunding an entire city—one that’s a cultural and economic engine for the nation—feels like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.
Malliotakis is walking a tightrope, opposing Mamdani’s radical ideas while defending her constituents from what she sees as unfair retribution by her own party. It’s a principled stand, even if it puts her at odds with some GOP heavyweights.
So, where does this leave NYC? Caught between a mayor with a controversial vision and a Republican Party divided on how to respond, the city’s future funding hangs in the balance. One thing’s clear: this fight is far from over, and the Big Apple’s resilience will be tested yet again.
