Mayor Zohran Mamdani is still without federal security clearance after nine months on the job — limiting his ability to be briefed on classified information involving terrorism or other threats to New York City.
Hizzoner on Monday tried to play down the lack of potentially crucial information being shared with him, telling reporters during an unrelated press conference in City Hall that this was a “typical timeline” for approval.
“The process of my getting a federal security clearance is ongoing,” Mamdani said.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani still cannot be briefed on federal classified information. Matthew McDermott for NY Post
“A number of senior administration officials have a security clearance at this time. The NYPD also regularly briefs me on intelligence investigations that do not involve federally classified information, and we will continue to move forward.”
Mamdani is not the first mayor to have issues with his security clearance while running the Big Apple.
Former Mayor Bill de Blasio was also without the high-level clearance at this point in his tenure after failing to even apply in the early days of his first term.
Ex-Hizzoner Eric Adams had his clearance revoked after being the first sitting mayor indicted by the feds.
Insiders have previously said the vetting, which is handled by the FBI, could take up to a year for someone as green as Mamdani in public office.
For de Blasio, it took just over a year for the feds to clear him, finally giving him the security clearance in October 2015.
The inability for Mamdani to receive unfettered classified information from the federal government could tie the mayor’s hands, potentially delaying an official response during an emergency.
The news comes as the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly is under way, with a slew of foreign dignitaries set to visit the city in the coming weeks.