Overview
- House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the DOHMH staff group on X for pushing a political agenda and said the agency should focus on services, while giving no indication the House will act.
- The working group, formed by DOHMH employees, held its first session during the workday at department headquarters, with a presenter describing Gaza as an 'ongoing genocide'.
- City Council Speaker Julie Menin called for an investigation into whether taxpayer resources were used to promote political advocacy during the meeting.
- Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the conduct 'criminal' and urged the city Department of Investigation, Comptroller Mark Levine, and the Council to open probes.
- The controversy comes as NYPD data show a 182% year-over-year rise in anti-Jewish hate crimes in January 2026.