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NYC DEP Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala to Step Down, Several Agency heads Also Depart
New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala will leave his post on January 31, 2026, marking the latest in a series of departures among top city agency officials. Aggarwala also served as the city’s Chief Climate Officer.
Aggarwala’s Tenure and Accomplishments
Appointed by Mayor Eric Adams in 2022, Aggarwala oversaw the city’s drinking water system, sewer infrastructure, and flood protection initiatives. During his tenure, the DEP advanced stormwater resilience, improved catch basin maintenance, took over coastal flood protection project maintenance, and implemented an indoor cooling mandate in collaboration with the City Council. he also launched a home buyout program for flood-prone areas and implemented Local Law 97, which limits carbon emissions from large buildings.
“Serving New York City as both the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection and as the City’s Chief Climate Officer has truly been the honour of a lifetime,” Aggarwala wrote in an email to agency staff. He emphasized the critical role of the DEP, stating, “No other agency touches every person in New York City the way DEP does.”
Leadership Changes Across City Agencies
Aggarwala’s departure is part of a broader trend of leadership changes as Mayor Zohran Mamdani begins to reshape the city’s management. Several other key officials have recently resigned, including:
- Zach Iscol, Emergency Management Commissioner (
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