Governor Jenniffer González-Colón and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Inaugurate New Vieques Health Center, Restoring Essential Healthcare Services to the Island
Vieques, Puerto Rico – September 27, 2026 — Governor Jenniffer González-Colón inaugurated the new Vieques Health Center, Susana Centeno Hospital, alongside U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., marking the culmination of a nearly decade-long effort to restore essential healthcare services to the island municipality following the destruction of its healthcare facility by Hurricane Maria.
The new facility represents a total investment of $85.5 million, including $48.3 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding and $36.7 million in state and local resources. The hospital restores critical services to a community of nearly 8,000 residents who, for nine years, were required to travel to Puerto Rico’s main island to access hospital-level care.
“We are not simply inaugurating a building. We are closing a chapter in work we began in Washington on behalf of the people of Vieques and fulfilling a commitment to a community that, for far too long, had to leave the island to receive essential healthcare services. I thank President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for their commitment to strengthening healthcare access and infrastructure in Puerto Rico. This hospital is a promise fulfilled. It is the result of years of work, oversight, and collaboration between the Government of Puerto Rico and the federal government to restore access to the healthcare services the people of Vieques deserve,” said Governor González-Colón.
“The people of Vieques should not have to board a ferry or plane to get essential healthcare,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “Today, we are changing that. This new hospital brings emergency care, dialysis, behavioral health services, and critical diagnostics back to the island and closer to the nearly 8,000 Americans who call Vieques home. Under President Trump’s leadership, and in partnership with Governor González-Colón, we are delivering the healthcare infrastructure this community needs and deserves.”
The project dates back to the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in September 2017, when the Susana Centeno Family Health Center was forced to close.
At the time, González-Colón was serving as Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner in Congress. She began advocating for the restoration of healthcare infrastructure in Vieques, working with FEMA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and other federal agencies to advance the project.
González-Colón held meetings at FEMA headquarters in Washington and continued pressing federal officials after FEMA reconsidered its initial commitment to the project in 2019. In January 2020, FEMA formally obligated approximately $39.5 million toward the reconstruction effort.
Following subsequent phases of design and construction, the facility reached substantial completion in December 2025, with completion certified on July 29, 2026.
“This is a project I have known since its beginnings. I worked on it as Resident Commissioner, advocated for action in Washington, brought the matter before federal agencies, and continued following up for years. Today, as Governor, I have the privilege of seeing that work become a reality in a facility that will directly serve our people,” said González-Colón.
The Susana Centeno Hospital brings multiple healthcare services together under one facility, including:
- A full emergency department;
- Outpatient medical clinics;
- Dialysis and infusion services;
- Behavioral health services; and
- Diagnostic capabilities.
Dialysis services began operating at the facility in October 2025, while additional Puerto Rico Department of Health programs and offices have since relocated to the center.
The facility also includes a helipad that received full Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification, supporting the safe transfer of patients requiring specialized medical care on Puerto Rico’s main island.
For an island municipality accessible only by air or sea, the facility is designed to reduce the need to travel off-island to begin receiving essential medical care and to improve emergency response capabilities in Vieques.
“For an island municipality that can only be reached by air or by sea, having healthcare services here is not a luxury; it is a necessity. A medical emergency cannot depend on taking a ferry, airplane, or helicopter before a patient can even begin receiving care. This facility brings essential services closer to patients, improves emergency response, and represents another important investment in Vieques’ healthcare infrastructure,” González-Colón added.
The project reflects coordination among FEMA, HHS, CMS, the Puerto Rico Department of Health, the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA), and the Government of Puerto Rico to advance the restoration of healthcare infrastructure in Vieques.
“At PRFAA, we continue working closely with Governor González-Colón and the Trump Administration to ensure that Puerto Rico has the federal resources needed to advance critical healthcare infrastructure. The Susana Centeno Hospital demonstrates how strong coordination between the Government of Puerto Rico and the federal government can translate federal investments into tangible projects that deliver essential services for the American citizens of Vieques,” said PRFAA Executive Director Gabriella Boffelli.
Construction is also nearing completion on a new lodging facility located steps from the hospital. More than 80 percent complete, the facility will provide accommodations for families of patients receiving extended treatment, as well as visiting medical specialists and healthcare personnel.
“Today, Vieques once again has a healthcare facility worthy of its people. This hospital represents access, security, and peace of mind for thousands of citizens who live on the island. After nine years of work, today we can tell the people of Vieques that we fulfilled our commitment,” said Puerto Rico Secretary of Health Dr. Víctor Ramos.
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