New York City's newly approved budget does not include a previously considered increase to the New York Police Department's authorized headcount. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the city has identified savings that will allow the NYPD's headcount to remain at its current level of 35,000 while still addressing crime-fighting needs and implementing new programs.
Mamdani, a self-described Democratic socialist, stated during a press conference that he had been working with agency heads to find savings. He noted that he and Commissioner Tisch identified ways to maintain the NYPD's authorized headcount of 35,000 "while also meeting all of our crime-fighting needs and implementing the new programs that were announced earlier this year."
The New York City Democratic Socialists of America (NYC-DSA) had previously voiced opposition to a potential increase in police staffing. The group, joined by other organizations, had issued a statement calling on Mayor Mamdani to reverse the proposed expansion and reallocate funds to community safety programs.
City Council member Tiffany Cabán, who worked with the mayor and public safety advocates on the budget, expressed support for the decision. She stated that "every dollar we spend on policing and incarceration means money we can't spend on housing, mental health care, substance use treatment, and economic stability: the proven policies that actually keep our communities healthy and safe." Cabán added that the budget represents a check on "broken windows policing" and will allow for building a public safety infrastructure rooted in care rather than punishment.
The NYPD commented on the budget, acknowledging the city's financial challenges and the mayor's request for agency efficiencies. A spokesperson stated that the department is currently able to police effectively with its budgeted headcount, which has contributed to month-over-month crime reduction. The department indicated that its current headcount and hiring plan provide the necessary flexibility to maintain this balance over the next fiscal year. Mamdani and Julie Menin, speaker of the New York City Council, were seen in a photo on June 30, 2026, during an announcement of a handshake agreement on the 2027 budget at City Hall.