NYC Mayor Mamdani dodges questions about DEI’s removal from equity report

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani points to racial wealth disparities — including a gap of more than $180,000 between White and Black households — to justify increased diversity programs, tax increases and police cuts.

Mamdani last week released a 375-page “Preliminary Racial Equity Plan” that argues that racial discrimination is the main cause of the divide, with White families holding more than $200,000 in median wealth compared to less than $20,000 for Black families.

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Mamdani officials say the report will serve as a guide for future policy, including reinstating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and directing resources toward closing the racial gap in income, housing and education.

The push is matched by Mamdani’s wide $127 billion agendawhich includes higher taxes on wealthy citizens and corporations, a potential 9.5% property tax increase if state lawmakers do nothing, and a layoff of about 5,000 NYPD officers.

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A man sleeps on the E train, one of the subway lines used by homeless New Yorkers to find shelter, in Queens, New York, Monday, April 7, 2025. (Victor J. Blue/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

“This is not the case of a person from New York,” said Mamdani in a press conference on Tuesday. “It is a case, however, of policies and politics that have gone on for far too long.”

City officials described the initiative as the first time New York City officials have required major agencies to examine their work through the lens of racial equity and identify disparities. The plan sets goals in seven sectors, including the economy, housing, public safety, health and infrastructure.

The report traces the city’s racial divide over the centuries, citing historical factors including colonization and slavery.

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One World Trade Center and the Manhattan skyline pass by passengers on the Staten Island ferry in New York on Friday, December 19, 2025. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

The release quickly sparked a backlash from conservatives and the Trump administration, which has sought to roll back race-based programs since he took office last year.

“Sounds shady/illegal,” DOJ Assistant Attorney General for Human Rights Harmeet Dhillon posted to X. “You will review it!”

“Direct racism against White people,” Conservative influencer Libs’ TikTok account posted on X.

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“The reality is that Mamdani is using blatantly discriminatory policies that reward and punish people based on their skin color,” published columnist Paul A. Szypula wrote in X.

The city has opened a 30-day public comment period as officials consider next steps.

Mamdani’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.