Overview

• Democratic legislators sent letters to the Nassau County District Attorney, state Attorney General and U.S. Attorney requesting criminal inquiries into luxury meals and disputed multimillion-dollar exit payouts.
• The probe request follows the revelation that seven top executives charged a $1,437.75 Lobster Club dinner—featuring $175 lobster and $68 Wagyu steak—to the hospital, exceeding policy caps.
• Gov. Kathy Hochul’s state-appointed board has commissioned Deloitte to audit NUMC’s finances as the safety-net hospital copes with a $1.4 billion debt and a $144 million operating loss in 2024.
• Interim leadership has referred former executives’ spending practices and the contested $3.5 million severance authorizations for potential criminal investigation.
• Former CEO Megan Ryan has filed a lawsuit challenging her termination for cause and disputing allegations that she approved improper separation payments for herself and other officials.