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Nisha Agarwal to lead NYC Mayor’s disabilities office
She will work with government agencies to ensure every resident can access the city’s spaces, services, and resources.
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Staff Reporter - Wed, 11, Feb 2026
- 13:11 EST
- 27
Nisha Agarwal / Courtesy: X/@NYCMayor
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed Indian American public interest lawyer Nisha Agarwal as commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD).
Making the announcement in a post on X, Mamdani lauded Agarwal’s dedication to serving vulnerable populations across the city.
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“Nisha has dedicated her career to serving and empowering some of New York’s most vulnerable communities,” he wrote, acknowledging her past role as Executive Director for Policy and Communications at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Nisha Agarwal has been appointed as Commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD).
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 10, 2026
Nisha has dedicated her career to serving and empowering some of New York's most vulnerable communities. She previously served as Executive Director for…
In the new role, Agarwal will work across city government and with the disability community to ensure that every New Yorker can access the city's spaces, services, and resources.
“I am honored to be the commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. All of the priorities that Mayor Mamdani supports are critical for people with disabilities: affordable housing and food, access to health and mental health, free transportation, education equity, and employment opportunities,” said MOPD Commissioner Agarwal. “I will work with and on behalf of disabled New Yorkers to tackle these issues and ensure that people with disabilities are at the forefront for creating this city more livable for all.”
“It’s not enough for New York City to be affordable for everyone — it must be accessible to everyone, too. With decades of experience in public service, Commissioner Agarwal will help our administration deliver on that mission and build a city where every New Yorker can succeed,” Mayor Mamdani said. “From housing to health care to education, Commissioner Agarwal will work across government to break down barriers and ensure that our administration delivers for New Yorkers with disabilities.”
In addition to her previous role at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Agarwal served as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs during Mayor Bill de Blasio’s first term, where she led initiatives including IDNYC and Cities for Action.
In de Blasio’s second term, she served as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Mayor, focusing on civic engagement, immigration, and disability rights. Her earlier roles also include leading the Health Justice Program at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, co-founding and serving as deputy director of the Center for Popular Democracy, and serving as executive director of the Immigrant Justice Corps.
Agarwal graduated from Harvard College with a bachelor’s degree and earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. She was also a Marshall Scholar at Oxford University, where she studied economic and social history.
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