The FDNY this week ordered firefighters and paramedics to thoroughly eliminate “political expression” while on the job, a move some critics say was intended to silence supporters of Donald Trump.
“At a time of heightened political debate, particularly leading up to the November 2024 elections, the department urges all employees to be vigilant against divisive behavior in the workplace,” the internal order, reviewed by The Washington Post, said. “The workplace is generally not an appropriate place for political speech.”
The order does not define “political expression,” and FDNY officials declined to explain the scope of the policy.
Fire Chief Laura Kavanagh announced the rules Tuesday, two days before the first presidential debate and the same day as some local primaries.
Critics charge that the NYPD, led by Kavanagh, a longtime political activist who began his career working for Barack Obama and other Democrats, has a history of trying to silence rank-and-file officers who express conservative views.
“Once again, we are seeing a blatant abuse of power by the FDNY, and certainly an abuse of power to silence Republicans,” said City Council Member Joan Arriola (R-Queens), who chairs the Fire and Emergency Management Committee.
“We saw it in March with the Tish James incident, and now we’re seeing it again two days before the presidential debate. This city has a serious problem. Violence. [anti-Israel] Protests are stifled and free speech is clamped down on.”
In March, Kavanagh openly expressed dismay after firefighters and other employees chanted “Trump!” and booed Attorney General Letitia James, a fellow Democrat, during a promotion ceremony at the New York Fire Department.
After The Washington Post reported that Kavanagh and the NYDFD’s Bureau of Investigations and Trials planned to “hunt down” obstructionists if they didn’t turn themselves in, Commissioner John Hodgens took responsibility, claiming that an internal statement had misspoken the word “hunt down.” Commissioner Hodgens then insisted there would be no investigation.
Kavanagh’s latest order has drawn the ire of many FDNY veterans.
“This is just another example of how this administration is trying to stifle free speech,” the veteran firefighter said. “It’s no longer acceptable to politely discuss politics at the kitchen table in your firehouse for fear of offending someone and the chief will send his men out to ‘hunt down’ the offender, as he did after the pro-Trump slogans.”
“They don’t like the fact that the NYPD and the majority of NYPD officers tend to be conservative,” he added.
“They cherry-pick and restrict anything they don’t agree with.”
Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, said he thought the order was “unnecessary,” adding that the union staunchly supports its members’ right to free speech.
“I believe this was a veiled attempt to keep the peace during a contentious election season, but it was probably misconstrued by some lawmakers,” Ansbro said.
This is not the first time the FDNY has tried to stifle political expression.
In 2016, then-Fire Chief Daniel Nigro banned firefighters from displaying photos of President-elect Trump in their fire stations or on their fire trucks.
The internal memo urged New York City’s Bravest to “remain out of the political arena and sphere” amid the deep divisions caused by Trump’s victory.
“This is not a new policy, nor is it the first time we have issued it,” an FDNY spokesperson said, adding that the department issued a similar order in 2020, before the last presidential election.
The policy “has absolutely nothing to do with the Attorney General or anyone else.”
