As New York City’s only public academic medical center, SUNY Downstate Hospital has provided Central Brooklyn with vital healthcare services for the last 160 years while training generations of a diverse, world-class healthcare workforce as the teaching hospital to SUNY Downstate Medical University.
However, SUNY Downstate Hospital has faced years of financial instability – including an annual operating shortfall of over $100 million – and continues to grapple with a facility in disrepair.
Governor Hochul Commits Nearly $1 Billion for SUNY Downstate Transformation
To address these challenges, Governor Hochul and the state legislature announced a historic investment in SUNY Downstate in the fiscal year 2025 Enacted Budget, including $300 million in capital funding and $100 million in operating funding to close the deficit. In addition to the fiscal year 2025 investments, Governor Hochul announced another $450 million in capital funding and $100 million in operating support for SUNY Downstate in her fiscal year 2026 Executive Budget, bringing the total commitment to $750 million in capital funding and $200 million in operating support for the facility.
To create recommendations utilizing the up to $750 million capital investment, Governor Hochul and the state legislature created a community advisory board in the 2025 Enacted Budget to establish a reasonable, scalable, and fiscally responsible plan for the financial health, viability and sustainability of SUNY Downstate. The Downstate Community Advisory Board must complete a study considering multiple factors, conduct community outreach, and submit written recommendations to the Governor and Legislature by April 1, 2025. Click the “Downstate Community Advisory Board” page for more information.