Zohran Mamdani appoints Lina Khan to lead NYC Economic Development Corporation

Jul 22, 2026

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Lina Khan, the 37-year-old former FTC antitrust chief, to chair the city's Economic Development Corporation. The surprise move puts a prominent critic of large corporations in charge of business growth. Separately, Mamdani faces a lawsuit from landlords over a rent freeze for 1 million apartments, a policy he championed to increase affordability.

Lina Khan appointment

▪New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed former FTC Chair Lina Khan as board chair of the New York City Economic Development Corporation on July 22, 2026.
▪The appointment of Lina Khan was described as a surprise announcement.

Khan's FTC tenure

▪As Federal Trade Commission chair under the Biden administration, Lina Khan used U.S. antitrust law to challenge mergers and boost competition.
▪Lina Khan is an associate professor of law at Columbia Law School.

Economic Development Corporation leadership

▪Anthony Shorris, a partner at McKinsey & Company, was named president and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation.
▪The New York City Economic Development Corporation is a nonprofit that serves as the city's official economic development agency.

Rent freeze lawsuit

▪Landlord groups argued the rent freeze would make it difficult for property owners to maintain buildings and cover mortgages.
▪The lawsuit alleges Mayor Mamdani "went to extraordinary lengths to pack the board with loyalists" who did not consider rising property costs.
▪A group of New York City landlords filed a lawsuit against the New York City Rent Guidelines Board on July 22, 2026, to block a rent freeze.

Mamdani's housing policy

▪In late June, the NYC Rent Guidelines Board voted 7-1 to freeze rents on about 1 million regulated apartments for up to two years.
▪Mayor Mamdani, a democratic socialist, appointed six of the nine members of the Rent Guidelines Board after taking office in January.
▪Mayor Mamdani's office stated the Rent Guidelines Board is independent and that it was prepared to defend the board's decision.
▪The rent freeze fulfilled a central campaign promise of Mayor Mamdani to make New York City more affordable.