On May 28, New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani announced the creation of the Committee on Government Efficiency (COGE), made up of 15 members. Its goal is to improve government efficiency by amending the charter approved by voters, with a promise not to cut any public services. The charter amendments proposed by the committee will be put to a vote on the November ballot, and 10 public hearings will be held across five boroughs.
COGE’s confirmed operating framework vs. DOGE’s system
At a press conference, Mamdani stated clearly that COGE is a deliberate countermeasure to the federal Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—which, under the leadership of Trump and Elon Musk, operates by cutting federal agency staff and canceling contracts, and plans to exit in advance by the end of 2025.
COGE’s approach is to propose charter amendments covering areas such as housing approvals, procurement, and service provision. All amendments must be approved through a voter referendum to take effect and may not cut existing services unilaterally. In his announcement, Mamdani said: “COGE will hold hearings in every borough, and meet with union members, community organizers, and working people to jointly explore how to build a more accountable and more efficient government. The future of this city will be built by all of us together.”
Confirmed public meetings and hearing schedule
The first public meeting has been confirmed for June 4, 2026, roughly six months after Mamdani won the mayoral election. Borough-level hearings are confirmed to begin on June 9, 2026, with hearings held across the five boroughs. The plan is to hold a total of 10 public hearings. All amendment proposals will be submitted to voters for approval on the November 2026 ballot.
Jeff Bezos’s statement and confirmed positions from various parties
Jeff Bezos has publicly backed COGE, saying: “That’s great— they really should get these. By using part of the money they save, we can eliminate taxes for the bottom half of income-earning people. The best way to get money into people’s pockets is not to take it away in the first place.” This aligns with Bezos’s labor no-tax proposal stance raised earlier this month in a CNBC interview.
The committee also includes labor representatives, including Henry Garrido of District Council 37. Critics have publicly questioned whether the heavy involvement of the unions can translate into real financial savings, given Mamdani’s progressive policy stance.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the members and chair of COGE?
The committee has 15 members in total. The chair is Patrick Gaspard, a former U.S. ambassador to South Africa. Labor representatives include Henry Garrido of District Council 37. Mamdani replaced the charter commission set up during former Mayor Eric Adams’s tenure with COGE.
What procedures must COGE’s proposed charter amendments go through to take effect?
According to Mamdani’s announcement, after 10 hearings across the five boroughs, the committee will propose amendments. The amendments will be placed on the November 2026 ballot and will take effect only if approved by voters; they cannot be implemented unilaterally by the committee or the mayor.
Have the hearing and meeting dates for COGE been confirmed?
Yes. The first public meeting is confirmed for June 4, 2026. Borough-level hearings are confirmed to begin on June 9, 2026, and will be scheduled across New York City’s five boroughs.
