NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks Resigns Amid Federal Investigation into Mayor Adams’s Administration

NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks announces resignation amid federal probe into Mayor Adams’s administration, marking the fourth high-profile departure in recent months.

At a Glance

David Banks, NYC Schools Chancellor since 2022, will step down on December 31, 2024
Federal agents seized Banks’s phones and devices, along with those of other high-ranking officials
Banks’s departure is the fourth major resignation from Mayor Eric Adams’s administration recently
The federal probe encompasses various allegations, including campaign finance violations and bribery
Banks’s exit raises questions about the continuity of his educational initiatives

Banks Announces Retirement Amid Federal Investigation

New York City’s education system faces a period of uncertainty as Schools Chancellor David Banks announced his resignation, effective December 31, 2024. This development comes as federal investigators intensify their scrutiny of Mayor Eric Adams’s administration, raising concerns about potential misconduct and the future of educational reforms in America’s largest public school system.

Banks, who has led NYC’s public school system since Adams took office in 2022, informed the mayor of his retirement plans this summer. His resignation letter, however, did not mention the ongoing federal investigations. The chancellor’s departure marks the fourth high-profile resignation from Mayor Adams’s administration in recent months, highlighting potential instability in city leadership.

Can't focus on what matters when your entire senior staff and commissioners are under investigation or leaving *because* everyone is under investigation.

Totally unserious administration. https://t.co/QKPPUeZTO5

— Mike DeCillis (@MikeDeCillis) September 24, 2024

Federal Probe Expands

The federal investigation has cast a wide net, with agents seizing phones and devices from Banks, his brothers, and other high-ranking officials, including First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, with whom Banks shares a home. The probe reportedly encompasses various allegations, including campaign finance violations and bribery across multiple city departments.

The full extent of the federal investigations remains unclear, with prosecutors maintaining silence on the ongoing probes. No one has been accused of wrongdoing yet, but the pattern of resignations suggests a broader scope of potential misconduct within the administration.

Impact on Education Initiatives

Banks’s tenure saw both achievements and controversies. He oversaw several major education initiatives, including a school cellphone ban and curriculum overhauls in reading and math. However, his administration faced criticism for handling antisemitism and Islamophobia in schools, as well as budget cuts.

“I am immensely grateful and proud of the work accomplished in New York City Public Schools under Chancellor David Banks,” Adams said in a statement on Tuesday.

The chancellor’s departure raises questions about the continuity of his educational initiatives and the potential impact of political turmoil on America’s youth. As the largest public school system in the country, New York City’s education policies often set precedents for urban education nationwide.

Welcome to New York City. It has been 0️⃣ days since a major figure in the Eric Adams administration resigned in the wake of a federal investigation. https://t.co/DTGB3lloPi

— Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) September 24, 2024

Administration Under Pressure

Mayor Adams has dismissed concerns about an exodus due to the federal inquiries, stating, “Employees and staffers come and go. Very few remain throughout an entire term.” However, the pattern of resignations, including top legal adviser Lisa Zornberg and health commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan, suggests growing challenges for city leadership.

“Another day, another resignation, welcome to NYC City Hall 2024,” one source told The Post. “Rats, jumping off a sinking ship. By the end of the year, Eric Adams will be sitting at the table by himself.”

As the investigations continue to unfold, the future of New York City’s education system hangs in the balance. The search for Banks’s successor will be critical in determining the direction of educational policies and reforms in the nation’s largest school district.