Hochul abruptly fires NYS IT boss as reasons for axing remain a mystery

ALBANY – Gov.Kathy Hochul abruptly fired the Empire State’s top tech official but the reason for the pink slip remains a mystery.

Information and Technology Services Director Dru Rai was unceremoniously removed by Hochul after serving in the Democratic governor’s administration for three years, a spokesperson confirmed.The sacking comes three years after Rai’s predecessor was also given the axe.“The administration has informed Dru Rai that the Governor no longer has confidence in his ability to effectively represent this administration and he was removed from his position,” Hochul spokesperson Kara Cumoletti told The Post.“Governor Hochul remains committed to holding employees to the highest leadership and ethical standards, and ITS will continue to deliver technology solutions and services for New Yorkers, our agencies and partners,” she said.The firing, first reported in the industry publication Government Technology, came Monday as Hochul held a press conference to announce new regulations on AI models set to take effect next year.Rai’s bio on the ITS website said the ousted director was responsible for the state’s “ongoing digital transformation” and “working with Executive Branch agencies to create digital interactions between state government and residents that are simple, seamless and straightforward.”The bio has since been scrubbed.Jenson Jacob has been named acting director of ITS, Hochul’s spokesperson said.Rai’s predecessor, Rajiv Rao, was fired by Hochul in 2023 and later settled with the state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government by admitting he state violated rules by awarding a contract to a lobbyist friend’s firm.Rao admitted he procured a special state-issued cell phone for former budget director Sandra Beattie that bypassed mandatory security protocols.Beattie also settled with the commission in July and admitted to violating ethics rules....