Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani announced key deputy hires to stand up universal child care and other operational priorities, signaling city investment in early‑childhood access and tenant protections. The appointments aim to operationalize campaign promises and coordinate cross‑agency work on child care, housing and climate. At the federal level, the HHS announced a freeze on child‑care payments to Minnesota and demanded audits after allegations of widespread program fraud. The federal action and Mamdani’s hires create a contrasting policy environment: local expansion plans face heightened federal scrutiny, which could affect provider networks, grant administration and workforce pipelines that feed early‑education programs connected to colleges and workforce training centers.