Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday nominated Nadia Shihata, a former federal prosecutor, to serve as commissioner of the Department of Investigation, the city’s independent watchdog agency responsible for rooting out corruption, fraud and misconduct across municipal government.
If confirmed by the City Council, Shihata would oversee investigations involving city agencies, employees, contractors and elected officials. The nomination comes as the administration faces pressure to strengthen oversight while also confronting a projected budget gap in the upcoming fiscal year.
Mamdani said Shihata’s experience prosecuting complex public corruption cases makes her suited to lead the agency at a critical time for the city.
“For years, scandal in City Hall chipped away at New Yorkers’ trust in government,” Mamdani said in a statement. “If confirmed, she will help usher in a new era of accountability as we build a government that New Yorkers can trust.”
Shihata spent more than a decade at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, where she served as chief of the Organized Crime and Gangs Section and as deputy chief of the Public Integrity Section. She led high-profile prosecutions, including the racketeering and sex trafficking case against R&B singer R. Kelly, and oversaw cases involving civil rights violations and public officials accused of corruption.
After leaving federal service, Shihata co-founded a woman-owned law firm focused on civil rights and internal investigations.
“I am deeply honored by this nomination,” Shihata said in a statement. “If confirmed, I look forward to leading the Department of Investigation with integrity, accountability and fairness for all New Yorkers.”
The Department of Investigation is charged with examining waste, fraud and abuse in more than 45 mayoral agencies and other city entities. Its findings can lead to criminal prosecutions, administrative discipline and policy reforms.
The position carries added significance as city officials work to close a budget shortfall projected in the coming fiscal year. Investigations that identify wasteful spending, contract fraud or mismanagement can play a role in safeguarding public funds at a time when agencies may face tighter financial constraints.
Under the city charter, the DOI commissioner is appointed by the mayor and must be confirmed by the City Council. Shihata would succeed Jocelyn Strauber, who stepped down in January.
