Mamdani Finally Receives Federal Security Clearance Nine Months Into His Term

NEW YORK — After a months-long wait, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has finally received his federal security clearance, giving him access to classified briefings on security threats and other emergencies affecting New York City. "I have my security clearance now," Mamdani told reporters Wednesday during an unrelated press conference in Brooklyn. An Unusually Long Wait Sam Raskin, a spokesperson for Mamdani, declined to specify the exact date the Trump administration granted the clearance, saying only that it happened sometime this week. The approval comes just days after Mamdani held a notably friendly meeting with Trump, who has previously faced accusations of politicizing the federal security clearance process. However, there's no indication that meeting directly influenced the timing of Mamdani's approval. The Department of Homeland Security, which processed Mamdani's clearance, declined to comment on what may have caused the delay, instead directing questions to the FBI, which conducts background checks for security clearances. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Local outlet Gothamist first highlighted the issue earlier this month, reporting that Mamdani's wait had been unusually long for a New York City mayor, especially given that he submitted his application shortly after taking office in January. Part of a Broader Pattern of Delays Mamdani's nine-month wait reflects a larger trend of extended processing times across federal security clearances nationwide. According to data from the Government Accountability Office, federal agencies took an average of 206 days — just shy of seven months — to authorize 90% of security clearances during the second half of fiscal year 2025. That figure is 92 days longer than the government's official goal of processing clearances within 114 days. What the Clearance Allows With the clearance now in place, Mamdani can participate in classified federal briefings, including those held by the FBI, regarding security threats to the city. Previously, he was excluded from these meetings, even as senior members of his administration, including chief counsel Ramzi Kassem, were able to attend because they already held active clearances. Context on Trump's Use of Security Clearances Mamdani's prolonged wait occurred against the backdrop of Trump's broader use of the security clearance process as a tool of political retribution. Last year, the administration revoked clearances for dozens of current and former government officials connected to investigations Trump has characterized as politically motivated, including the FBI's inquiry into his 2016 campaign's ties to Russia. A Notably Changed Relationship Despite their current cordial relationship, Mamdani and Trump were sharply critical of one another as recently as last year, when the mayor frequently described the president as a "despot" and a "fascist."