U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, raised concerns on Mar. 24 about the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's use of federal taxpayer dollars. Cassidy sent a letter to Mayor Zohran Mamdani following reports that city health department employees organized a working group in response to events in Palestine without mentioning attacks against Jewish and Israeli people.
The issue is significant because the NYC Health Department receives $600 million in annual federal funding and serves over eight million residents. The department is one of the largest public health agencies globally with an operating budget near $2 billion and more than 7,000 employees. Cassidy said it is critical for such agencies to ensure their activities align with federal law and nondiscrimination requirements tied to these funds.
“These taxpayer dollars are meant to improve New Yorkers’ health, not push a far-left agenda that discriminates against Jewish families,” said Dr. Cassidy. “At a time of rising antisemitism, Mamdani is failing Jewish New Yorkers.”
Cassidy's letter cited recent public statements from Dr. Alister Martin, the city's new health commissioner, who indicated that equity work would continue even if it risked federal funding changes. The senator asked for details about the "Global Oppression and Public Health Working Group," including its purpose, activities funded by federal resources, compliance measures regarding nondiscrimination laws such as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d), oversight actions taken since February 2026, and policies governing diversity initiatives.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee oversees key policy decisions affecting public health across the United States according to its official website. In addition to legislative duties in public health and education sectors according to its official website, it also provides oversight for major agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) according to its official website.
As chair during the current Congress according to its official website, Cassidy continues this oversight role as his committee investigates whether NYC’s programs comply with all applicable regulations.
