Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York, is set to testify before a congressional subcommittee on September 10 as part of an investigation into the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, Cuomo was a prominent figure but faced significant backlash for his harsh economic and social restrictions, as well as controversial directives that allowed nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients. According to a report released by the New York State Department of Health in 2023, thousands of deaths linked to COVID-19 occurred in nursing homes across the state, prompting further scrutiny of Cuomo's policies.

The hearing will focus on the guidance issued by Cuomo’s administration that mandated nursing homes to admit residents who tested positive for COVID-19. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican member of the subcommittee, has expressed concerns over Cuomo's lack of accountability regarding these orders. She stated that there remains confusion over who approved the directive, highlighting a discrepancy in accountability among members of Cuomo's administration.

Malliotakis further noted the presence of alternative facilities, such as military medical ships and a mental hospital, that were underutilized while nursing homes were forced to accept infected patients. Many residents in Malliotakis’s district lost loved ones due to what she deems preventable deaths linked to Cuomo's policies, emphasizing the need for him to apologize and take responsibility.

In contrast, a spokesperson for Cuomo dismissed the congressional investigation as politically motivated, arguing that New York had fewer nursing home deaths per capita than most states. The spokesperson criticized the subcommittee and its members for failing to hold former President Donald Trump accountable for his role in the pandemic response. Cuomo himself has previously challenged the media narrative around nursing home deaths, asserting that political motivations have influenced the discussion.