Mamdani Tapped McKinsey Partner After Axing $9.9 Million McKinsey Contract - The City Reporter

What the report says

The City Reporter says New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Anthony Shorris, a former first deputy mayor and McKinsey & Co. partner, to lead the city’s Economic Development Corporation on July 22, 2026. The appointment came months after Mamdani canceled a $9.9 million McKinsey consulting contract with the Department of Social Services as part of a broader savings effort. Shorris acknowledged at City Hall that he had spent time working on that contract while at McKinsey, but did not detail his role.

The outlet reported that the DSS contract had generated about $7.2 million in payments before being halted, including work described in city records as business consulting and efforts related to reducing errors in SNAP administration. EDC, the agency Shorris is set to run, plays a significant role in economic policy by providing grants, tax incentives and other support to businesses and real estate developers.

The report also revisited Shorris’ earlier City Hall ties to McKinsey. During the de Blasio administration, he helped initiate a $27.5 million McKinsey project intended to improve housing classifications at Rikers Island through an algorithmic system. The program was later abandoned after criticism and continued violence at the jail complex.

Government watchdogs cited by The City Reporter raised concerns about the revolving door between public service and major consulting firms. The article also noted that Mamdani named former Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan to chair the EDC board, placing a critic of heavy government reliance on outside consultants in an oversight role. The story says there is no indication Shorris was involved in McKinsey’s controversial ICE or opioid-related work.