MAMDANI Act Moving American Money Distant from Anti-National Interests Act

The Moving American Money Distant from Anti-National Interests Act (MAMDANI Act) aims to restrict federal funding to New York City during any period when Zohran Mamdani serves as mayor. The bill represents a targeted financial penalty against New York City contingent on the election of a specific individual to local office. Its primary objective appears to be preventing or disincentivizing Zohran Mamdani from becoming or remaining mayor of New York City by threatening severe financial consequences for the city if he assumes that role.

The bill contains two core provisions that take effect during any period when Zohran Mamdani is mayor of New York City. First, it rescinds any unobligated federal funds available to New York City for any purpose [§2(1)]. Second, it prohibits the obligation or expenditure of any federal funds for any purpose to New York City [§2(2)]. These provisions apply notwithstanding any other provision of law, indicating an intent to override existing funding statutes or obligations. The bill does not specify any exceptions, waivers, or special circumstances under which federal funding could continue if Mamdani becomes mayor.

The bill provides minimal details on implementation mechanisms. It does not specify which federal agencies are responsible for enforcing the funding restrictions or how they should determine when Zohran Mamdani officially becomes or ceases to be mayor. No reporting requirements, compliance measures, or specific enforcement provisions are outlined. The lack of implementation details raises significant questions about how the federal government would operationalize such a targeted funding restriction, including how quickly funds would be cut off upon Mamdani taking office and how they would be restored if he left office.

The primary affected party would be New York City and its approximately 8.5 million residents who rely on various federally-funded programs and services. The bill would potentially impact all federal funding streams to the city, including those for transportation, housing, education, healthcare, and social services. While no specific cost estimates are provided, the financial impact on New York City could be severe, potentially amounting to billions of dollars annually in lost federal support. The administrative burden of implementing such a targeted restriction could be significant for federal agencies. No sunset provisions are specified, suggesting the funding restriction would remain in effect indefinitely as long as Mamdani holds the office of mayor.

The bill does not explicitly state its constitutional basis, though it likely relies on Congress's spending power. However, the targeted nature of the restriction against a specific individual raises serious constitutional concerns related to bills of attainder and equal protection. The bill appears to preempt any state or local laws that might require the provision of federal funds to New York City. It does not address judicial review, leaving open the possibility of legal challenges to its constitutionality and implementation.

Several critical issues arise from this bill. Constitutionally, it may violate prohibitions on bills of attainder by singling out Zohran Mamdani for punitive action without trial. It also raises equal protection concerns by treating New York City differently based solely on the identity of its democratically-elected mayor. Practically, the bill faces significant implementation challenges, including determining the exact scope of affected funding and the mechanisms for rapidly halting and potentially restoring federal funds based on mayoral changes. The potential for severe unintended consequences is high, as the bill could devastate essential city services and disproportionately harm vulnerable populations reliant on federally-funded programs. Opposition arguments are likely to focus on federal overreach into local democratic processes, the bill's punitive nature, and its potential for causing widespread harm to millions of New York City residents unrelated to the mayoral position.