Zohran Mamdani feuds with Elon Musk and MAGA over his decision to appoint woman with no firefighting experience as FDNY chief
Lillian Bonsignore will take the reins as the new Commissioner from January 1 to become the first openly gay fire chief and only the second woman in the agency's history.
By LAURA PARNABY, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER
Published: 19:48 GMT, 28 December 2025 | Updated: 20:58 GMT, 28 December 2025
Incoming NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has sparked fury after appointing a woman with no firefighting experience as the new head of the FDNY.
Lillian Bonsignore will take the reins as the new Commissioner from January 1 to become the first openly gay fire chief and only the second woman in the agency's history.
She is the highest-ranking uniformed woman in the FDNY and has more than 30 years experience working for the department.
However her lack of experience as a firefighter has led to major criticism from MAGA supporters, including Elon Musk.
'People will die because of this. Proven experience matters when lives are at stake,' the Tesla owner raged on his social media platform, X.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz also poked fun at the appointment, writing: 'A great idea! Unless there's a fire...'
Mamdani admitted Bonsignore has no direct fire fighting experience but praised her as a 'trailblazer for the LGBTQ community' who will serve as 'the FDNY's first openly gay commissioner'.
He hit back at the critics, writing: 'Experience does matter, which is why I appointed the person who spent more than 30 years at EMS. You know, the workforce that addresses at least 70% of all calls coming into FDNY?'
Incoming NYC Mayor Zohran got into a dispute on X with conservatives who mocked his choice of Lillian Bonsignore for New York's new fire chief despite her lack of firefighting experience
Bonsignore is still is the highest-ranking uniformed woman in the FDNY and has more than 30 years experience working for the department
Bonsignore's colleague, NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Ischol, also leapt to her defense, condemning those who criticized her as 'reprehensible'.
'I have worked directly with Chief Lillian Bonsignore and find the lies being told about her experience to be reprehensible, as they sow mistrust in someone New Yorkers need to feel comfortable with,' Ischol wrote on X.
'Chief Bonsignore is one of the most competent, experienced, and respected city leaders.