Tariq Bokhari leaves Trump administration after 5 months: ‘The timing is right’
Former Charlotte City Councilman Tariq Bokhari will return to North Carolina after five months of working for President Donald Trump’s administration.
Bokhari said on social media “the timing is right” to leave his role as deputy administrator for the Federal Transit Administration. He left his position on council to take the job.
“Although 5 months may seem brief, it felt a lot longer, and I really loved getting to know some amazing people that care immensely about this country,” Bokhari said in his statement on Facebook.
While working for the federal government, Bokhari said he was tasked with establishing a new framework and “gameplan” for the U.S. Department of Transportation. The former Charlotte councilman said he helped clear “massive grant backlogs” and red tape that slowed projects. And he worked on a 10-year vision to help the U.S. become a leader in autonomous transit, Bokhari said.
Bokhari represented District 6 on city council from 2017 until April of this year. Edwin Peacock III was appointed to serve the remainder of his term. His wife, Krista Bokhari, is running this November to take over his seat for a full term.
He plans to focus on his wife’s campaign, his family and his business, he said.
Bokhari declined an interview with the Observer, but said he will talk once he’s ready. His biographical page has already been taken down from the Federal Transit Administration website.
Near the end of his time on council, Bokhari repeatedly clashed with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings. He pushed Jennings to supply CMPD officers with new outer-carrier vests or else he would demand Jennings’ resignation and “cripple” his legacy, according to text messages reported by WFAE.
The matter came to a head after Bokhari resigned. In May, council voted in a closed session to pay Jennings $305,000 as part of a separation agreement that was reportedly to avoid a lawsuit over Bokhari’s comments.
This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 4:20 PM.
