Mamdani Taps Controversial Biden Admin Official For Transition Team

Lina Khan Joins Zohran Mamdani’s Transition Team as Co-Lead

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced Wednesday that former Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan will serve as a co-lead for his transition team. The announcement marks a major addition to Mamdani’s incoming administration, The Hill reported.

Khan, who led the FTC under President Biden, will work alongside three veteran City Hall officials to guide Mamdani’s transition. “New Yorkers have made it clear they want a city that working people can afford,” Khan said, expressing excitement to help shape a new model of Democratic leadership.

Mamdani praised his transition leaders, saying they will build a City Hall “committed to excellence, integrity, and bold solutions,” adding that his administration will prioritize people over billionaires.

As FTC chair, Khan was a central — and often controversial — figure in Biden’s antitrust agenda, launching aggressive crackdowns on corporate mergers and so-called “junk fees.” Her confrontations with Big Tech made her a progressive icon but also alienated major Silicon Valley players, many of whom shifted their support toward Republicans.

Before joining the FTC, Khan taught at Columbia Law School and advised former Commissioner Rohit Chopra, where she developed her staunch anti-corporate stance.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump weighed in on Mamdani’s win, citing pollsters who blamed Republican losses on the government shutdown and his absence from the ballot.

As Mamdani prepares to take office, some House Republicans are exploring ways to block his swearing-in under the 14th Amendment’s “insurrection clause,” citing his past activist ties and criticism of ICE.