Senate Panel Deepens Probe Into NYC Mayor Mamdani’s Health Department Over Anti-Israel ‘Global Oppression’ Working Group

WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews)- A U.S. Senate panel is intensifying its oversight of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration following the creation of a city Health Department “Global Oppression and Public Health Working Group” that described Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and omitted any mention of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, according to a transcript and sources familiar with the meeting the NY Post reports.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, sent a follow-up letter Monday to Mamdani questioning whether the group’s activities comply with federal nondiscrimination laws, especially as the department receives roughly $600 million in federal funding annually.

“Prioritizing a political agenda over compliance with these requirements risks both federal funding and the public health of New York City residents,” Cassidy wrote. “Federal taxpayers should have confidence that funds intended to support public health services are administered in compliance with those obligations.”

The letter, dated March 23, demands details on the working group’s purpose, any federally funded resources it uses, and whether the administration has assessed compliance with civil rights requirements. Cassidy also asked what steps Mamdani’s office is taking to ensure taxpayer dollars focus on public health rather than “a political agenda that singles out the State of Israel.”

He further inquired whether the department plans similar working groups for other ethnic or national groups affected by global conflicts, or if its focus is exclusively on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

Cassidy set an April 6 deadline for a response. It was unclear Tuesday whether Mamdani had replied to the senator’s initial February letter, which raised concerns about the rescission of executive orders combating antisemitism and opposing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.

The first “Global Oppression and Public Health Working Group” meeting occurred in early February, shortly after Mamdani took office Jan. 1. Presenters framed the group as a response to “the ongoing genocide in Palestine” and aimed at exploring how “global oppression” affects health equity, according to a transcript first reported by the New York Post. No one mentioned Hamas’ attack, which killed about 1,200 people in Israel, including dozens of Americans.

Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin told NY1 in a recent interview that the department has “pretty specific evidence that the federal government is not a fan of the work that we’re doing on equity” but vowed to continue those efforts “even if the federal government comes and messes with our money.”

Mamdani’s administration has not yet commented publicly on Cassidy’s latest letter. Representatives for the mayor’s office and the Health Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The scrutiny comes amid heightened concerns over antisemitism in New York City, home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel. Cassidy’s initial letter highlighted Mamdani’s decision to void prior executive orders that established the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism and opposed BDS policies.

Cassidy warned that such moves could weaken safeguards for Jewish residents and conflict with federal civil rights obligations tied to funding.