New York City’s Indian-origin mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has added a Pakistani-born woman to his transition team. He has included former Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chair Lina Khan, who is known for taking strong action against big companies through her strict anti-trust decisions. Reports say that Lina Khan was born in the UK to Pakistani parents and moved to the United States when she was 11 years old. Her appointment has drawn attention because many major corporations have criticised her tough regulatory approach.
Lina Khan served as the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from June 15, 2021, to January 20, 2025. She became the youngest person ever to lead the agency, taking charge at just 32 during Joe Biden’s presidency. According to the FTC, Lina Khan first worked as a business reporter and a researcher focusing on antitrust issues. She spent years studying how large companies were gradually taking over various markets.
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What will she do in Mamdani’s team?
In an interview with Pod Save America, Lina Khan said she is learning about the full powers and responsibilities of the New York City mayor so she can prepare before Zohran Mamdani officially takes office on January 1, 2026.
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Her role is to guide Mamdani on economic decisions and staffing. She explained that she wants to help the new administration build a strong team that can deliver on its promise to make the city more affordable for residents.
Actions against Amazon & Microsoft
During her time as FTC Chair, Lina Khan took on several major tech companies—including Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft. Some of these cases did not succeed. She was unable to stop Microsoft’s purchase of gaming company Activision-Blizzard.
She also blocked a major supermarket merger between Kroger and Albertsons and pushed for a ban on non-compete agreements that stop employees from switching jobs.
Bloomberg reported that her tough stance upset many powerful figures on Wall Street. Billionaires like LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, IAC Chairman Barry Diller, and investors Vinod Khosla and Peter Thiel accused her of being too aggressive toward businesses and harming U.S. competitiveness.