Democratic members of the subcommittee consistently focused on the failings of the Trump administration's pandemic response, arguing that it created a chaotic environment for states and hampered their efforts to contain the virus. They highlighted the lack of testing, PPE, and federal coordination in the early days of the pandemic, which they argued contributed significantly to the spread of COVID-19.

Both Democrats and Republicans agreed on the importance of transparency in public health data, but with different interpretations of Cuomo's actions. Democrats emphasized the need for accurate and comprehensive data to inform future pandemic preparedness, while Republicans focused on the perceived lack of transparency surrounding the March 25 directive and the nursing home death count, accusing Cuomo of covering up the true impact of the directive.

Ranking Member Ruiz introduced the Safer Nursing Homes Act, a new piece of legislation designed to strengthen infection control and prevention efforts in nursing homes. This bill focuses on increased investments in CMS survey and certification efforts to ensure better oversight and compliance with infection prevention requirements.

The committee issued a subpoena to the current Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, for documents related to Cuomo and the March 25 directive. This action was taken because Hochul was deemed to be improperly withholding relevant documents from the investigation.

Cuomo repeatedly asserted that the March 25 directive was in full compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, citing the New York Attorney General's investigation, which concluded that the directive was consistent with CMS guidance. He argued that the nursing homes had the discretion to refuse admissions if they felt they could not safely care for the patient and that the state law required nursing homes to have infection control plans in place. He also highlighted that the total death count in New York was not significantly impacted by the directive and that the main reason for COVID-19 spread in nursing homes was community spread, not hospital admissions.

The hearing centered on a March 25, 2020 directive issued by Cuomo's administration that required nursing homes to admit COVID-positive patients, even if they were potentially infectious. Republicans argued this directive superseded federal guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which advised, but did not mandate, accepting COVID-positive patients only if nursing homes could safely manage them. Cuomo defended the directive, claiming it was consistent with federal guidance and that it was a matter of protecting hospital capacity during a crisis.

Republican members raised questions about Cuomo's negotiations for a book deal while serving as Governor, particularly in light of the nursing home crisis. They suggested that the timing of the negotiations, alongside the alleged cover-up of nursing home deaths, raised ethical concerns and reflected poorly on Cuomo's priorities during a time of crisis.

Cuomo rejected accusations that he had manipulated nursing home death data or intentionally misled the public. He defended the administration's reporting practices, arguing that they were always transparent and that the total death count was never altered. He also attributed the discrepancies in the out-of-facility death data to the difficulty of accurately tracking patients who were transferred to hospitals. He repeatedly blamed the Trump administration for failing to provide adequate resources and support to states during the early stages of the pandemic.

The committee concluded the hearing by reiterating its commitment to learning from past mistakes and ensuring better preparedness for future pandemics. They expressed a desire to work in a bipartisan manner to develop policies that protect vulnerable populations and prevent future tragedies.

Republican members of the subcommittee emphasized the dangers of the March 25 directive, arguing that it violated both federal guidelines and medical best practices. They pointed to the fact that the directive prohibited nursing homes from testing patients before admission, thus increasing the risk of spreading COVID-19 within vulnerable populations. They also criticized the administration's decision to exclude out-of-facility deaths from the nursing home death count, which they argued artificially lowered the mortality rate in nursing homes.

Republican member Green raised concerns about a former staffer in Cuomo's administration, Linda Sun, who was indicted for being a Chinese spy. Green suggested that Cuomo's actions, including thanking the Chinese government for assistance during the pandemic, while having Sun on his staff, were concerning and potentially indicative of a lack of awareness of the potential for foreign interference.