MAMDANI Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5937
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-07: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-09T21:10:23Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to restrict federal financial support to New York City (NYC) specifically when Zohran Mamdani serves as its mayor, citing concerns implied in the bill's acronym (MAMDANI Act, standing for "Moving American Money Distant from Anti-National Interests Act"). It seeks to withhold or cancel federal funds as a punitive measure tied to the mayor's identity.
Key Provisions
- Rescission of Unobligated Funds: Any federal funds already allocated to NYC but not yet committed (unobligated) are automatically canceled during Mamdani's tenure as mayor.
- Ban on New Obligations or Expenditures: No new federal funds can be promised (obligated) or spent on NYC for any purpose while Mamdani is mayor, overriding other existing laws.
- Scope: The restrictions apply citywide and cover all federal funding purposes, with no exceptions specified.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a novel, personality-based condition for federal funding, which is not common in U.S. law. Typically, federal aid to cities is based on need, population, or specific programs (e.g., infrastructure or disaster relief), not the identity of local elected officials.
- Overrides ("notwithstanding") any conflicting laws, potentially disrupting established funding streams like grants from agencies such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development or FEMA.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Federal agencies distributing funds (e.g., those handling transportation, health, or education grants) would face administrative challenges in tracking and halting payments to NYC, possibly leading to delays or legal disputes.
- On Citizens: NYC residents could lose access to federal programs supporting public services, housing, schools, and emergency aid, exacerbating budget shortfalls in a major city with over 8 million people.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could strain U.S. federal-local dynamics and signal political tensions, potentially affecting NYC's role in global events like UN activities hosted there.
- Broader economic ripple effects might include reduced investment or service disruptions in a key economic hub.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- New York City Government: Directly targeted, facing severe funding cuts that could cripple operations.
- Zohran Mamdani: The bill singles him out by name, potentially influencing his political career or local elections.
- Federal Government: Congress and executive agencies involved in budgeting and oversight would need to enforce the restrictions.
- NYC Residents and Businesses: Everyday people and companies relying on federal-supported services or infrastructure.
- Taxpayers Nationwide: Indirectly affected through reallocation of federal funds originally intended for NYC.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Challenges: The bill's targeted nature could face lawsuits over violations of equal protection under the 14th Amendment (treating NYC differently based on its leader) or the 10th Amendment (federal overreach into local governance, known as federalism concerns).
- Constitutional Issues: Singling out an individual by name raises free speech or association questions under the 1st Amendment, as it might be seen as punishing political views without due process.
- Political Ramifications: As an introduced bill (not yet law), it highlights partisan divides, potentially used as a tool for national politics against perceived "anti-national" local leaders. If passed, it could set a precedent for conditional funding based on ideology, eroding norms of unconditional federal aid to states and cities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-07: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-11-07: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-11-07: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-07: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Moving American Money Distant from Anti-National Interests Act — issued 2025-11-07 — PDF (2 pages)