Hundreds Rally Against State Takeover of Nassau University Medical Center
EAST MEADOW, N.Y. - More than a hundred demonstrators marched and gathered on the front lawn of Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) Wednesday afternoon in protest of Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to assume control over the hospital’s governing board.
The protest drew between 100 and 200 participants, including hospital employees, union members, and community advocates. The demonstration began around 3 p.m., with marchers voicing opposition to what they described as a dangerous overreach by the state.
Chanting slogans and carrying signs, protestors warned that the shift in control could pave the way for privatization, job losses, and a weakening of NUMC’s longstanding mission to serve the most vulnerable populations in Nassau County.
“This hospital belongs to the community. It’s not for sale and it shouldn’t be for political gain,” said one NUMC employee who participated in the protest. “We’ve served this county through crisis after crisis, including the [COVID-19] pandemic. We deserve a seat at the table—not to be shut out by Albany.”
Some critics have called the move a “state takeover.” The newly approved 2025–2026 New York State budget includes a provision giving Governor Hochul the authority to appoint the members of the Nassau Health Care Corporation board — the body that governs NUMC. This effectively removes local control from Nassau County officials and places decision-making power in the hands of state-appointed leadership.
Although the state is not taking over day-to-day operations of the hospital, opponents argue that the change in governance amounts to a de facto state takeover, with significant consequences for how the hospital is run and who gets a say in its future.
NUMC, which is operated by the Nassau Health Care Corporation (NuHealth), has long faced financial difficulties and leadership instability. The hospital remains one of the region’s primary safety-net providers, offering care to tens of thousands of patients each year, regardless of their ability to pay.
Union leaders at Wednesday’s protest warned that workers have not been adequately consulted in the process and said they fear that staff reductions or service cuts may follow if the new board prioritizes financial performance over public health.
The state has not yet announced who will be appointed to the new hospital board or when those appointments will take effect. Meanwhile, CSEA and other stakeholders say they will continue to push back and demand a voice in NUMC’s future.
As the afternoon sun beat down on the lawn of NUMC, the chants of the protesters echoed a powerful message: this hospital is more than just a building — it’s a lifeline, a legacy, and a symbol of public service. The workers who marched weren’t just protecting their jobs — they were standing up for the soul of community healthcare in Nassau County.
