The Senate HELP Committee chair sent a second letter demanding answers about whether the working group — exposed by The Post — is violating federal nondiscrimination requirements. The group's first meeting focused exclusively on "ongoing genocide in Palestine" with zero mention of Hamas' role in starting the war.
Sen. Bill Cassidy is threatening to cut $600M in federal health funding to NYC after Mayor Zohran Mamdani's health department created a "Global Oppression Working Group" that accused Israel of genocide while ignoring Hamas' Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,200 people.
Cassidy gave Mamdani until April 6 to respond. It's unclear if the mayor replied to his first letter in February. The health department hasn't commented on whether they'll comply with the federal inquiry or risk losing hundreds of millions in annual funding.
The working group reportedly uses federally funded resources, raising questions about whether taxpayer dollars meant for public health are being diverted to push a political agenda. Cassidy warned that "prioritizing a political agenda over compliance" risks both federal funding and public health outcomes for NYC residents.
Cassidy's probe comes after Mamdani rescinded executive orders that created NYC's Office to Combat Antisemitism and opposed anti-BDS policies. The senator is asking whether other ethnic groups affected by global conflicts will get their own working groups — or if singling out Israel is the department's "sole interest."
Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin doubled down, telling NY1 the feds are "not a fan of the work that we're doing on equity" but vowed to continue "even if the federal government comes and messes with our money." That defiance is now drawing scrutiny over whether political activism is overtaking public health priorities.
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The Senate HELP Committee chair sent a second letter demanding answers about whether the working group — exposed by The Post — is violating federal nondiscrimination requirements. The group's first meeting focused exclusively on "ongoing genocide in Palestine" with zero mention of Hamas' role in starting the war.
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Sen. Bill Cassidy is threatening to cut $600M in federal health funding to NYC after Mayor Zohran Mamdani's health department created a "Global Oppression Working Group" that accused Israel of genocide while ignoring Hamas' Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,200 people.
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Cassidy gave Mamdani until April 6 to respond. It's unclear if the mayor replied to his first letter in February. The health department hasn't commented on whether they'll comply with the federal inquiry or risk losing hundreds of millions in annual funding.
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#threadstorm
5/6 🧵
The working group reportedly uses federally funded resources, raising questions about whether taxpayer dollars meant for public health are being diverted to push a political agenda. Cassidy warned that "prioritizing a political agenda over compliance" risks both federal funding and public health outcomes for NYC residents.
4/6 🧵
Cassidy's probe comes after Mamdani rescinded executive orders that created NYC's Office to Combat Antisemitism and opposed anti-BDS policies. The senator is asking whether other ethnic groups affected by global conflicts will get their own working groups — or if singling out Israel is the department's "sole interest."
3/6 🧵
Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin doubled down, telling NY1 the feds are "not a fan of the work that we're doing on equity" but vowed to continue "even if the federal government comes and messes with our money." That defiance is now drawing scrutiny over whether political activism is overtaking public health priorities.