Robert Tucker, the Jewish fire commissioner of New York City announced on Wednesday that he was resigning after Zohran Mdani’s election as socialist mayor.
Sources familiar with the situation told the New York Post that Tucker, who is a Jewish businessman and philanthropist, would step down on December 19. The sources said that Tucker will return to T&M security, his former private firm, where he worked before joining the Mayor Eric Adams administration.
The news of Tucker’s resignation was announced just hours before a trip scheduled to Israel where he would meet a fire chief in this Middle Eastern country. The exact reason for Tucker’s resignation was not immediately made clear.
Tucker was appointed as FDNY’s 35th Commissioner in August 2024. He replaced Laura Kavanagh whose tenure had been marred by many controversies. At the time of Tucker’s appointment, outgoing Mayor Adams gave him high praise.
In a recent statement, he stated that “Commissioner Tucker has decades of experience protecting the public’s safety in this role. He also brings strong personal ties with FDNY.”
Tucker founded T&M, a 55-year-old company, in 1999. He was a Special Assistant for Queens District Attorney’s Office before that.
The Post reported that he’s also involved in charitable efforts, serving as the secretary of the FDNY Foundation and receiving honors from both the New York Board of Rabbis (NYBR) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City.
Robert Tucker, the Jewish Fire Commissioner of New York City, resigns hours after Zohran Mamdani was elected.
New York, there’s a lot more to it than that.
You asked for this. pic.twitter.com/5dMiuRYval
Eric Daugherty 5 November 2025
Mamdani’s support of some more radical pro-Palestinian elements has been criticized by Jewish groups. Mamdani has called the Israeli operation in Gaza after the attacks of October 7, a “genocide”, and has threatened to arrest Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York for United Nations or other business.
The October 7th attacks were referred to as “war crimes” by him, and he said that his criticisms of the Israeli government and not the Jewish population are directed towards them.
Mamdani will take over as president on 1 January 2026.
