Senator Cassidy Addresses NYC Health System Cyberattack
WASHINGTON — Bill Cassidy, the Senate Health Director, is seeking answers from Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s team regarding a significant cyber breach at the New York City Health and Hospital System, which went unnoticed for over three months.
As the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Cassidy (R-Louisiana) expressed deep concern over the data breach that compromised personal information of patients in the largest municipal health system in the country.
In a letter to Mitchell Katz, CEO of New York City Central Hospital, whom Mamdani reappointed, Cassidy emphasized the urgent need for the healthcare sector to enhance its cybersecurity measures. He noted the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, particularly those aided by artificial intelligence.
“The recent cybersecurity incident at NYC Health + Hospitals illustrates the serious risks these attacks pose to patients,” Cassidy stated.
Reports indicate that hackers had unauthorized access to medical records, fingerprint scans, and personal data belonging to more than 1.8 million people.
The breach is believed to have persisted from November 2025 to February 2026, during which cyber intruders accessed sensitive information, including health records and billing details.
NYCHHC has stated that it has implemented several preventive measures, such as resetting credentials for compromised accounts and enhancing detection techniques.
“We are working to fortify our cybersecurity defenses and improve our response protocols,” the organization informed the public.
However, Cassidy seeks more detailed explanations. He has requested that the hospital system clarify its security protocols, whether it employs best practices in cybersecurity, when it informed federal authorities about the breach, the nature of its investigation, and how it is assisting those affected.
Officials are expected to provide these specifics by June 18th.
A spokesperson for NYCHHC reassured that patient and staff safety remain their foremost priority, noting that they have taken necessary actions, including informing the public and providing support to those impacted.
Cassidy has been advocating for the Medical Cybersecurity and Resilience Act to strengthen the cyber infrastructure within the nation’s healthcare system and is also reviewing other significant healthcare security breaches.
Moreover, Cassidy is facing some scrutiny for his investigations into Mamdani concerning allegations related to antisemitism and other health department issues. Recently, he withdrew from the Republican primary for re-election following Trump’s endorsement of another candidate, which has stirred some tensions within the Senate Republican conference.
