Mayor Eric Adams gathered his top commissioners and officials early Monday to give marching orders under the new administration: don’t criticize President Trump, don’t interfere with immigration enforcement and trust the mayor, multiple sources told THE CITY.
Adams scheduled the approximately hour-long meeting, which was held at the Municipal Building, late Friday, after days of confusion over guidance on what to do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrive at city buildings, including schools and hospitals.
THE CITY reported in January that one memo instructed city employees to intercept ICE agents attempting to enter city-owned buildings until city lawyers could weigh in. But Hell Gate reported last week that another memo told employees they could let federal law enforcement in if they feel “reasonably threatened.”
The mayor began the meeting Monday by asking his top officials how they felt and that they shouldn’t be shy about sharing, sources told THE CITY.
After some people expressed their concerns and asked for clearer guidance from the mayor, Adams ordered them to stop complaining and to keep their heads down and refrain from criticizing President Donald Trump — and trust that he will make sure the city doesn’t get federal grants pulled, multiple people told THE CITY.
They were also ordered to not be critical of the president or federal government on social media.
Trump has already threatened to pull federal funding for so-called sanctuary cities, where laws or policies limit local government cooperation with immigration enforcement. New York City’s laws allow cooperation with ICE only in limited instances involving people convicted of certain felonies, or with a judicial warrant.
Attendees spotted by THE CITY entering the meeting included Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, Health and Hospitals CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz, Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park, and multiple deputy mayors.
On Sunday, Aviles-Ramos released a video assuring parents, students, and school staff that “any non-local law enforcement is not permitted” inside school buildings. She declined to clarify or answer questions as she entered the meeting.
Adams also told his top officials they needed to stop complaining about President Trump and move on because he was elected — which echoes what he’s repeatedly shared in press briefings.
“Mayor Adams often speaks to his top leaders to discuss what they’re seeing on the ground in their respective departments and ways we can continue working together to provide for the people of New York City,” his spokesperson, Kayla Mamelak Altus, said in a statement after this article was published.
“As he has said publicly many times, the mayor wants to find ways to work with the federal administration, not war with them. Tweets do not solve problems, which is why addressing issues on the streets is what this administration is going to do. Delivering for New Yorkers and protecting our employees is — and always will be — our North Star.”
The administration also on Monday released a new flow chart to help city employees know what to do when interacting with non-local law enforcement.
The mayor has said he won’t publicly criticize the president and has refused to criticize Trump’s statements or actions when pressed by reporters.
Trump said in December he would “look at” potentially pardoning Adams, whose federal corruption trial is set to begin in April.
It’s fueled speculation that the mayor is acting chiefly to obtain a pardon or dropped charges from the president, even as Trump threatened to withhold crucial funding from the city.
Following THE CITY’s reporting, many candidates seeking to unseat Adams, including Comptroller Brad Lander, criticized Adams’ instructions to top-level staff.
“Today Eric Adams instructed New York City employees from top to bottom to aid and abet his efforts to win a pardon from Donald Trump,” he said in a press conference held outside the Municipal Building.
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, who is also running for mayor, said Adams’ “irresponsible actions and words will only keep New Yorkers away from getting the services they need to survive, and undermine the sanctuary city policies that have been upheld by both Democratic and Republican mayors.”
And Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani said that the mayor “has narrowed the focus of city government to a singular goal: keeping himself out of prison.”
Over the weekend, Trump threatened to end congestion pricing by withholding federal grants to New York City.
“If I decide to do it, I will be able to kill it off in Washington through the Department of Transportation,” he told the New York Post. He also said during that interview he would get rid of bike lanes and “sidewalks in the middle of the street” in Manhattan.
Earlier Monday, Elon Musk posted to X that his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) “just discovered that FEMA sent $59M LAST WEEK to luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal migrants.” He said “a clawback demand” would be made to get the money back.
Adams has previously praised Musk, saying in November he was “one of the people I think it was important to bring on board.”
“We’re dealing with an antiquated government filled with bureaucracy, unwilling to make any changes,” Adams said in an interview on PIX 11. “Government has to change. It’s not serving people correctly.”
During a press conference in early December, Adams said he looked “forward to Elon Musk, who can take us to Mars.” And the mayor repeated those sentiments on Jan. 22 when he said, “I’m an Elon Musk guy” on a popular YouTube show.
Another mayoral spokesperson, Liz Garcia, criticized the Biden administration in a lengthy statement and said they “left New York City largely on its own to manage an international humanitarian crisis.” She added that the city has “continued to receive previously allocated reimbursements through the past week. We will discuss this matter directly with federal officials.”
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The mayor has met at least twice with Trump since he was elected last November and said he has spoken with him multiple times.
Adams visited the president at one of his golf courses in Florida days before he was sworn in, and then drove down in the middle of the night to Washington D.C. after he received a last-minute invite to the inauguration.
Adams’ criminal defense attorney Alex Spiro reportedly met with Department of Justice officials late last month to discuss potentially dropping the fraud and corruption charges against the mayor.