Senate education chair blasts Mamdani over revocation of antisemitism executive orders

NEW YORK — A top Senate Republican is launching an inquiry into New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's decision last month to shelve a pair of executive orders addressing antisemitism and boycotts of Israel.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, wrote a letter to Mamdani on Wednesday expressing outrage over one of his first official acts as mayor — the revocation of executive orders intended to protect students and combat antisemitism.

Mamdani, who was sworn in on Jan. 1, opted against renewing two orders signed by former Mayor Eric Adams. One officially spelled out a broad definition of antisemitism, as adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which Adams signed in June. The other — which Adams signed in December — barred city employees from engaging in the boycott, divest and sanctions movement against Israel.

Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, argued the rollback of the IHRA-related order risks “misalignment” with federal antisemitism policy, which requires agencies to consider that definition of antisemitism when enforcing civil rights protections. The change, he wrote, could impede the federal Education Department’s ability to enforce Title VI, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin.

“Antisemitism is not an abstract concern in New York City; it is a lived reality for millions of students and residents, and its consequences are very serious,” Cassidy wrote. “Decisions by your administration that weaken established safeguards for Jewish students in New York and are out of alignment with federal executive orders warrant careful scrutiny.”

He added that “Jewish students deserve clear assurance that their safety and civil rights will not be compromised by your administration’s actions.”

As of June, the city Department of Education’s operating budget reflected $2.2 billion in federal funding, Cassidy noted.

“Continued eligibility for this funding is contingent on compliance with federal civil rights laws and applicable executive orders designed to protect students,” he said.

The lawmaker gave the mayor a Feb. 19 deadline to respond to several questions, including a request to delineate how revoking the orders protects Jewish students and whether his administration will adopt a new definition of antisemitism.

He also asked whether Mamdani’s administration consulted with federal agencies, including the federal Education Department and the Justice Department, regarding the funding implications of rescinding the IHRA-related order. Additionally, he questioned whether the city Department of Education has received guidance from City Hall on how antisemitism complaints will be “identified, investigated, and remedied.”

Cassidy demanded that Mamdani indicate whether he believes the BDS movement is antisemitic.

Spokespeople for City Hall did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mamdani has defended axing the orders despite criticism from the Israeli government and Jewish groups. He has previously noted that some Jewish organizations in the city do not agree with the IHRA definition, which equates some criticisms of Israel with antisemitism.

Cassidy pushed back against that argument in his letter, noting that “many governments, international institutions, universities, NGOs, and private organizations widely recognize and encourage use of this definition.”

The mayor found himself at odds with mainstream Jewish institutions over anti-Israel stances he's taken, including his support for the BDS movement. He’s also come under fire for refusing to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada” — which he later said he would discourage the use of — as well as criticizing lawmakers’ attendance at the Israel Day Parade.