'Stupid Attempt': Internet Reacts as Jeff Bezos Endorses Zohran Mamdani’s New COGE Initiative

While New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s new Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) initiative sounds eerily similar to Elon Musk’s former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Jeff Bezos seems to support the move.

Based on Mamdani’s plan, the commission will find ways for the city to “work smarter, faster, and more effectively for working people.”

Bezos appreciated Mamdani's announcement on X, hailing it by stating that the "best way to put money in people's pockets is not to take it out."

However, while the New York City mayor finds support in the Amazon founder, certain internet users appear to be calling out the plan.

Taking to his X account on Thursday, May 28, Mamdani announced that he's forming the COGE to improve the City Hall’s expenditure.

However, people were quick to notice how the plan seemed similar to Musk's DOGE, which the latter formed shortly after President Donald Trump returned to the White House for a second time.

Mamdani wrote, “This morning we are introducing COGE — the Commission on Government Efficiency.”

He further added, “This Commission will find ways for our city to work smarter, faster, and more effectively for working people. New Yorkers deserve a city government as careful with their money as they are.”

In a follow-up post, Mamdani wrote, “COGE will hold hearings in every borough and meet with union members, community organizers, and working people who will shape how we build a more responsive and accountable government.”

He concluded, “The future of this city will be built by all of us, together.”

Meanwhile, after Mamdani's plan went viral with people sharing mixed opinions, Bezos weighed in on the same.

Taking to his X account, the billionaire supported the idea suggesting, “This is great and they do deserve that. And, with some of the savings, we can zero out taxes on the bottom half of earners.”

NYC.gov states that COGE will be chaired by Patrick Gaspard, who served as a close aide to former President Barack Obama.

However, after Mamdani's post and Bezos’ support for the same went viral, people started mocking the plan as a mirror image of Musk's DOGE.

In a bid to slash government waste, DOGE -- under the Trump administration -- began cutting the federal workforce.

NBC News reported that more than 300,000 federal workers and contractors were forced out of employment during the DOGE cuts.

The plan dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development, sparking internal conflict. The initiative was ultimately disbanded.

Witnessing a similar plan from Mamdani, people took to X to criticize and ridicule COGE.

One user wrote, “Bro, @elonmusk literally created the SAME exact thing in @DOGE and there were terrorist attacks for weeks on end.”

Another user stated, “I'm sure you were 100% behind DOGE then?”

Taking a dig at Bezos, an individual commented, “It would also be great if people who owned 6-figure watch collections, multiple mansions, yachts, penthouses, art pieces, etc paid far more taxes than they do today.”

“Our money is in the pockets of you and all the other billionaires. Your stupid attempt to play the concerned citizen isn't fooling anyone,” stated one user.

“This is the most you've spoken since Trump been in office about regular people not being taxed, wonder what’s the change of heart!” noted one user, taking a swipe at Bezos.