In a move that has sparked controversy, the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) has issued an order to its firefighters and medics, instructing them to refrain from "political expression" while on duty.
Critics argue that this directive is an attempt to suppress the voices of those who support Donald Trump.
The internal order, as reviewed by The New York Post, states, "The department reminds all members during this time of heightened political debate, particularly in the lead up to the November 2024 elections, to be mindful of engaging in conduct that creates division within our workplace. The workplace is generally not the appropriate place for political expression." The order, however, does not provide a clear definition of "political expression," and FDNY officials have declined to elaborate on the policy's boundaries.
Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, who initiated the rules this Tuesday, has been accused of attempting to silence FDNY members who express conservative views. Kavanagh, a seasoned political operative who began her career working for Barack Obama and other Democrats, issued the order just two days before the first presidential debate and on the same day as some local primaries.
City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens), who chairs the fire and emergency management committee, expressed her discontent with the FDNY's actions. "Once again, we're seeing blatant overreach by the FDNY overreach that is no doubt meant to silence supporters of the Republican party," she said. "We saw it with the Tish James fiasco back in March, and now, two days before the presidential debate, we saw it again. This city has a serious problem we are letting violent [anti-Israel] protests slide while cracking down on free speech."
In March, Kavanagh was visibly upset when firefighters and other staff members booed Attorney General Letitia James, a fellow Democrat, while chanting "Trump!" during an FDNY promotion ceremony. Following this incident, Chief of Department John Hodgens claimed responsibility for a miscommunication, stating that he had incorrectly used the term "hunt down" in an internal announcement. Hodgens then assured that there would be no investigation.
The recent order has also upset many FDNY veterans. One longtime firefighter said, "Its just another example of how this administration is trying to squelch free speech. Now its unacceptable to civilly discuss politics around the firehouse kitchen table for fear of offending someone and having the commissioner send her minions out to hunt down any offender like they did after the pro-Trump chants." He added, "They dont like the fact that the vast majority of both FDNY and NYPD members tend to lean more to the conservative side. They pick and choose and restrict anything that they themselves dont align with."
Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, believes the order is "unnecessary," and maintains that the union staunchly supports members' free-speech rights. "I think this was a veiled attempt to keep peace" during a contentious election season, "but some members probably took it the wrong way," Ansbro said.
This is not the first time the FDNY has attempted to regulate political expression. In 2016, then-Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro prohibited firefighters from displaying pictures of President-elect Trump in firehouses or on their trucks. An internal memo urged NYCs Bravest to "remain out of the political scene and out of the political field" amid the wide divisions sparked by Trumps triumph.
An FDNY spokesman stated, "This is not a new policy and it is not the first time we have issued it," adding that the department issued a similar order in 2020 leading up to the last presidential election. He also clarified that the policy has "absolutely nothing to do with the Attorney General or anyone else." Despite these assurances, the order continues to stir debate among FDNY members and the wider public, reflecting the ongoing tension between free speech and workplace decorum in politically charged times.
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