The Trump administration’s reductions in the federal workforce have affected the World Trade Center Health Program, raising concerns among critics who argue that these cuts put the health of 9/11 first responders and survivors at risk. As part of the layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sixteen probationary staff members working in the program have been dismissed. In addition, several full-time staff members have taken buyouts, resulting in a total staff reduction of about 20%.
These staff cuts have impacted the administration and oversight of the program, which provides medical care and support for individuals affected by toxic exposure during and after the September 11, 2001, attacks. The funding reductions have also led to cuts in research grants, including those supporting the New York City Fire Department’s efforts to study health conditions linked to service at Ground Zero. According to Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, the firings and budget reductions will lead to delays in certifying and treating new cancers and other health conditions. Pending petitions to expand coverage to autoimmune and cardiac conditions will also be affected. Additionally, with fewer staff available to address issues related to prescriptions and treatment, responders and survivors may experience disruptions in their medical care.
New York Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer have strongly opposed these reductions, calling them a betrayal of the commitment made to 9/11 first responders. In a joint statement, they emphasized that cutting funding and reducing staff for the program violates the promise to stand by those who risked their lives during and after the attacks. They urged Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. to restore the lost funding and reinstate affected staff members. Schumer called the funding cuts “unacceptable and un-American,” while Gillibrand stated that the program’s ability to care for sick responders and survivors would be significantly harmed.
Several Republican lawmakers from New York and New Jersey have also voiced their concerns in a letter to the president. They urged the administration to protect the program from further staffing and budget cuts, emphasizing that it must be properly funded and administered to provide necessary medical care. They called for the reinstatement of dismissed staff and restoration of research grants that support health studies for first responders.
The World Trade Center Health Program was established in 2011 as part of the Zadroga Act and was extended until 2090 to accommodate the increasing number of individuals diagnosed with illnesses related to the 9/11 attacks. Approximately 140,000 people are enrolled in the program, with around 12,000 new members joining last year alone. Critics argue that budget cuts and staff layoffs undermine the program’s mission and jeopardize the health of those who sacrificed their well-being in the aftermath of the attacks.
