Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani has selected former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan to co-chair his transition team, raising eyebrows among tech leaders in New York City.
Khan, a 36-year-old Democrat known for her significant lawsuits against companies like Meta and Amazon during her term as FTC chair between 2021 and 2025, made an unexpected appearance with Mamdani at his first news conference after the election.
“What we witnessed last night is not just the election of a new mayor, but also a clear rejection of a political climate where corporate power influences decisions. New Yorkers are sending a mandate for change,” Khan remarked at the gathering, eliciting applause from attendees.
When asked about a possible full-time position in Mamdani’s administration, a source close to Khan indicated that she was concentrating on her role in the transition team.
“Lina is co-chairing the mayor-elect’s transition team, advising on economic policy and human resources,” stated Doug Farrar, a spokesperson for Khan.
However, Khan’s appointment quickly alarmed executives from Big Tech and Wall Street. They have long taken issue with her vigorous enforcement methods, stringent merger evaluations, and antitrust measures during her time leading the FTC.
Given that Google, Meta, and Amazon maintain significant operations in New York, there’s concern among these companies that Mamdani and Khan’s partnership could pose a threat, according to Eric Sufer, who leads advanced technology practices at Task Strategies.
“I think many are going to lose sleep over this at first, especially until there’s some clarity or public discourse from Khan and the transition team regarding their intentions,” Sufer added.
In addition to Khan, other co-chairs on the transition team include former Vice Mayor Maria Torres Springer, nonprofit leader Grace Bonilla, and budget expert Melanie Hartzog.
During her time at the FTC, Khan unsuccessfully tried to impede Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, successfully blocked a merger between Kroger and Albertsons, and implemented a ban on non-compete agreements, which was later overturned by a court.
Notable critics of Khan include Democratic megadonor Reid Hoffman and IAC Chairman Barry Diller, who have openly expressed discontent with her tenure at the FTC.
Conversely, Khan has found support from smaller tech startups, which appreciate her efforts to challenge industry giants.
Her firm stance on antitrust issues has also garnered favor from some conservative figures, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Missouri Senator Josh Hawley.
“Lina Khan is one of the few in the Biden administration I believe is performing well,” Vance commented at an antitrust conference last year hosted by Y Combinator, a startup accelerator.
