News Articles on Effort to Ensure that the World Trade Center Health Program is Fully Funded
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Below are URLs to news stories on the effort to have the World Trade Center Health Program fully funded.
March 14, 2025 — Newsday — Dietitian Amanda Reichardt helps 9/11 responders
A Kings Park woman whose father and uncle were 9/11 first responders has worked to improve the health and wellness of thousands of others impacted by the terrorist attacks.
March 10, 2025 — Newsday — Federal science funding: NIH critical to LI medical research
Attempts to limit NIH funding will throttle discovery, diminish the nation’s global research leadership, and hurt Long Islanders.
March 9, 2025 — Staten Island Advance — Her life was on the line as she cared for others during the worst of times
Compassionate. Smart. Fierce. Elegant. Inspiring. These are just a few words used to describe Dr. Kerry J. Kelly, a 2025 Staten Island Advance Woman of Achievement and trailblazer in the field of medicine.
March 6, 2025 — News 12 Brooklyn — Local 9/11 hero selected to lead one of Westchester County’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations
Matt McCauley had just retired from the NYPD and was working as a paramedic in Mamaroneck when the first plane struck the World Trade Center.
March 6, 2025 — The Broadsheet — Trying Again: New Appropriations Measure Aims to Fund World Trade Center Health Program Through 2090
The new bill aims aimed to ensure that the WTC Health Program will have funding necessary for the next ten years.
March 6, 2025 — New York Times — Federal Workers Who Were Fired and Rehired by the Trump Administration
Even as the Trump administration continues to slash federal jobs, a number of federal agencies have begun to reverse course — reinstating some workers and pausing plans to dismiss others, sometimes within days of the firings.
March 6, 2025 — 2 News Nevada — Reno Firefighters in Washington D.C.
Reno Fire is looking to discuss key issues including improving the Public Safety Officers’ Benefit, the World Trade Center 9/11 Health Program, C-130s for the Nevada Air National Guard and Washoe County Lands Bill.
March 6, 2025 — New York Post — How DOGE is giving Trump credibility with rebellious House GOP fiscal hawks
Trump has a new ally in the usual Republican intramural sniping: the Department of Government Efficiency, whose bull-in-a-china shop approach to shrinking government is helping GOP fiscal hawks get on board.
March 3, 2025 — PIX11 — Fight for 9/11 health program funding
Advocate John Feal, the founder of the FealGood Foundation, NYPD Sgt. Tom Wilson and FDNY Lt. Michael O’Connell talk about the fight for money on PIX11 Morning News.
February 28, 2025 — Fedscoop — GSA tells agencies to terminate contracts with top-10 consulting firms
GSA acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian issued this week a memo, obtained by FedScoop, calling for the termination of contracts with top-contracted consultants.
February 28, 2025 — International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) — IAFF sets top legislative priorities for 119th Congress
While the union advocates for various bills to advance fire fighters’ interests, these bills will be the primary focus of the IAFF’s Government Affairs division lobbying efforts over the next two years.
February 27, 2025 — U.S. News & World Report — Full Speed, Then Reverse: Trump’s Biggest U-Turns So Far
From a spending freeze memo that sparked confusion to federal layoffs among critical programs, here are the biggest reversals of Trump’s second term so far.
February 26, 2025 — NY Daily News — 9/11 survivors, advocates travel to Washington in push to fully fund embattled responder health program
At the same time, 9/11 survivor John Feal has once again brought a small army of 9/11 survivors and advocates to D.C. to ensure that the bill gets the votes it needs to pass.
February 26, 2025 — Spectrum News NY1 — N.Y. lawmakers relaunch push to permanently fund 9/11 health program, one week after rescinded DOGE cuts
Congressional lawmakers are launching yet another bipartisan push for permanent funding for the health program that helps people sickened by toxic smoke and debris from the World Trade Center’s collapse.
February 26, 2025 — NY Daily News — Never forget the WTC sick: Congress must finally fully fund their health care
Having protected the WTC Health Program from Musk’s chainsaw, much more must be done to fully fund this CDC program, which will soon be facing shortfalls.
February 25, 2025 — News12 Long Island — 9/11 first responders from Long Island going to DC for funding fight
9/11 first responders from Long Island are leading the charge to secure permanent healthcare funding for those who got sick after being at Ground Zero.
February 24, 2025 — The Daily Show — Rupa Bhattacharyya – World Trade Center Health Program & DOGE’s Effect on Gov’t
Jon Stewart joins Rupa Bhattacharyya, former Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, to discuss how Elon Musk’s reckless budget cuts are affecting programs like the one she used to oversee.
February 22, 2025 — The Daily Beast — Trump Admin Agrees to Restore 9/11 Health Program Funding
After overwhelming blowback from both sides of the aisle, President Donald Trump’s administration has agreed that DOGE will keep its hands off the World Trade Center Health Program.
February 21, 2025 — Gothamist — Trump administration ceases 9/11 health program cuts after backlash, NY lawmakers say
The Trump administration is expected to stop its cuts to staff and funding for a federal program that supports 9/11 survivors through medical treatment and research.
February 21, 2025 — Spectrum News NY1 — White House reverses DOGE cuts to 9/11 health program, grants
The Trump administration will reverse the layoffs it ordered at the 9/11 healthcare program for people sickened by toxic smoke and debris from the World Trade Center’s collapse.
February 21, 2025 — Rockland/Westchester Journal News — Trump, CDC fully restore 9/11 health program cuts from DOGE axe
Cuts announced last week by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency were restored Thursday and Friday.
February 21, 2025 — NY Daily News — 9/11 health funding and jobs restored amid outrage over Elon Musk cuts
Funding for 9/11 health research was restored by the federal government on Friday after bipartisan outrage erupted over Elon Musk’s deep cuts.
February 21, 2025 — Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act — Statement From Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act On the Announcement by the CDC, Rescinding the Cuts to the Staff of the World Trade Center Health Program Along With Restoring Research Grants That Had Been Terminated
We appreciate the swift action by President Trump, when he became aware of the impact that these cuts by DOGE would have had on health care of injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors.
February 21, 2025 — New York Times — Trump, After G.O.P. Criticism, Reverses Cuts to 9/11 Survivors’ Program
About 20 percent of the World Trade Central Health Program’s staff had been terminated amid President Trump’s slashing of the federal work force.
February 21, 2025 — Rockland/Westchester Journal News — Trump restores 9/11 research funding cut by DOGE. Will WTC health program jobs be next?
Key scientific research grants into 9/11 health issues that were cut by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency were restored by President Trump, members of Congress announced.
February 20, 2025 — CBS News New York — CDC restores 9/11-related cancer research funding after DOGE’s cancellation, officials say
The CDC has restored a $257,000 contract for 9/11-related cancer research after the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency tried to cancel it.
February 20, 2025 — Insider NJ — Congresswoman Pou Hammers Trump Admin Slashing 911 Responder Health Support
Pou represents North Arlington, New Jersey, the hometown of James Zadroga, the first NYPD officer whose death was attributed to toxic exposure from working at Ground Zero.
February 20, 2025 — CBS News New York — CDC restores 9/11-related cancer research funding after DOGE’s cancellation, officials say
The CDC has restored a $257,000 contract for 9/11-related cancer research after the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency tried to cancel it, officials say.
February 20, 2025 — FOX 5 New York — Elon Musk’s DOGE slashes 9/11 first responders’ heath program
New York leaders are calling for the immediate reversal of federal cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program, which supports 9/11 first responders.
February 20, 2025 — Newsday — Congress must fight cuts to WTC health program
The Trump administration’s broad employee cuts have slashed World Trade Center Health Program staffing by 20%.
February 20, 2025 — NJ Spotlight News — Kennedy is urged to reverse World Trade Center health cuts
The Trump administration has cut staff and instigated buyouts resulting in a 20% reduction in staff at the World Trade Center Health Program, according to reports.
February 20, 2025 — CBS News — DOGE cuts at 9/11 health program may impact first responders
Advocates for those sickened by toxins from the massive debris of 9/11 are calling on President Trump to immediately reverse cuts he made to the World Trade Center Health Program.
February 20, 2025 — NY Daily News — Elon Musk cuts to 9/11 health fund spark bipartisan outrage
Elon Musk’s deep cuts to the 9/11 health fund have sparked rare bipartisan outrage as Republicans join Democratic lawmakers in demanding they be restored.
February 19, 2025 — Rep. Andrew Garbarino — Garbarino, Northeast Republicans Urge President Trump to Protect 9/11 Health Program
The Members also expressed concerns over reports that statutorily-required WTC research grants will be impacted by recent HHS actions.
February 19, 2025 — New York Times — DOGE Cuts 9/11 Survivors’ Fund, and Republicans Join Democrats in Rebuke
A coalition of congressional Republicans rebuked the president for cuts to a program that administers aid to emergency workers and others suffering from toxins related to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
February 19, 2025 — CNN — Fired government worker: DOGE 9/11 health program cuts endanger lives
Anthony Gardner joins The Lead.
February 19, 2025 — Staten Island Advance — 9/11 Health Program suffers ’rash and counterproductive’ 20% cut in employees
About 20% of the staff was let go due to employee reductions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which runs the WTC Health Program.
February 19, 2025 — PIX 11 — Politicians demand cuts to 9/11 health program be reversed
The 9/11 health program is taking a heavy hit from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
February 19, 2025 — ABC News — Trump administration cuts to CDC will affect 9/11 responders, critics say
The firings and buyouts amount to a 20% reduction in the staff that supervises and administers the World Trade Center Health Program.
February 18, 2025 — Newsday — New York senators Schumer, Gillibrand to press Kennedy to reverse cuts to WTC health program
New York’s senators have asked for a meeting with Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to demand he reverse staff cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program.
February 18, 2025 — NY Daily News — 9/11 health program staff cuts are ‘insulting,’ ‘un-American’: Schumer, Gillibrand
New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have already reached out to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., demanding the cuts to the program be rescinded.
February 18, 2025 — Rockland/Westchester Journal News — 9/11 health program cuts to cause ‘life and death’ delays, fired worker says
The impact is exacerbated, elected officials and fired workers say, by DOGE cuts to scientific research and last year’s scrapping of permanent funding for the WTC program by Congress.
February 18, 2025 — Newsday — New York senators Schumer, Gillibrand to press Kennedy to reverse cuts to WTC health program
Schumer and Gillibrand sent a letter Monday to Kennedy reminding him that he committed to ensuring that 9/11 first responders and survivors would continue to get the care they need.
February 18, 2025 — The Broadsheet — ‘A Serious Risk, Particularly to the Most Vulnerable’: Trump and Musk Force Out One-Fifth of Staff at World Trade Center Health Program
The administration of President Donald Trump has downsized of the staff at the World Trade Center Health Program by at least 20 percent, according to a source who is directly familiar with the situation.
February 18, 2025 — The Hill — NY Democrats demand RFK Jr. restore cuts to 9/11 survivor program
The program provides screenings, research and medications to more than 100,000 survivors diagnosed with conditions related to their service on 9/11 at no cost.
February 18, 2025 — Sen. Chuck Schumer — Schumer, Gillibrand Demand HHS Immediately Reverse Brutal Cuts to 9/11 Survivor Health Program
The senators explained the cuts will limit the program’s ability to support approximately 132,000+ 9/11 first responders and survivors and delay care and other services.
February 18, 2025 — Washington Post — Trump’s firings strike the nation’s health agencies
The nation’s health agencies were upended over the weekend by a confusing, slow-motion rollout of terminations that left staff worried about the future of various projects.
February 17, 2025 — Villages-News.com — Letter to the Editor: Trump fires World Trade Center health program staff
These cuts, which are immediate, mean that services to 137,000 9/11 responders and survivors in all 50 States and in 434 out of 435 Congressional Districts will be impacted.
February 17, 2025 — Spectrum News NY1 — ‘It lacks humanity’: 9/11 community advocates warn of staffing cuts at federal health program
As the Trump White House continues to slash the federal government, advocates say the World Trade Center Health Program has seen a staffing reduction of 20% — a combination of layoffs and buyouts.
February 16, 2025 — New York Times — Trump Fired, Then Unfired, National Nuclear Security Administration Employees. What Were Their Jobs?
The move shined a spotlight on the agency, the National Nuclear Security Administration, which few Americans likely think of often, if ever, but has a monumental responsibility.
February 16, 2025 — WUSA 9 — Military spouse who was a probationary employee at the CDC fired over the weekend
Shaw worked in the CDC’s World Trade Center Health Program under the Department of Health and Human Services. She says about 40% of that program’s staff is expected to be cut.
February 16, 2025 — Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act — Statement from Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act on the Trump Administration Cutting 20% of the CDC Staff who work at the World Trade Center Health Program and other Actions Impacting 9/11 Responders and Survivors
We cannot believe that the Trump Administration intends to harm 9/11 responders and survivors in the World Trade Center Health Program, but that will be the outcome of these cuts.
February 16, 2025 — News12 The Bronx — Advocates to fight for 9/11 first responders program targeted by Trump administration’s federal job cuts
John Feal calls the Trump administration’s federal job cuts “inhumane.”
February 15, 2025 — Neurotoxicology — World Trade Center Response Activities and Cognitive Health: A Moderated Mediation Study of the Role of Surgical/Nuisance Dust Mask Usage
Surgical/nuisance dust mask usage provided mild protection against air pollution exposures during WTC response activities when compared to not wearing a mask.
February 15, 2025 — CBS News — Thousands of probationary federal health agency workers fired by letter this weekend
Probationary workers across multiple federal health agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services received virtually identical letters informing them they would be terminated.
February 15, 2025 — Newsday — Tenth of World Trade Center Health Program fired or resigns, advocate says
The World Trade Center Health Program lost about a tenth of its staff after the Trump administration Friday fired all probationary employees at the Department of Health and Human Services.
February 15, 2025 — Senate Democrats — Leader Schumer, Gillibrand Statement On Reports Of CDC Employees, Including World Trade Center Health Program Employees, Being Laid Off By The Trump Administration
We have serious questions and grave concerns regarding potential staff reductions for the essential World Trade Center Health Program.
February 14, 2025 — CBS News — 9/11 changed this New York couple’s lives — and love — forever
Twelve hours had gone by since Sonia had last heard from her husband. Suddenly, Joe appeared at the door covered in soot.
February 14, 2025 — Rockland/Westchester Journal News — CDC cuts: How will the World Trade Center Health Program be impacted?
The cuts are considered a continuation of Thursday’s firing of thousands of people at multiple agencies.
February 14, 2025 — Associated Press — HHS is losing thousands of workers under Trump administration probationary job cuts
Department of Health and Human Services officials expected most of the agency’s roughly 5,200 probationary employees to be fired Friday.
February 14, 2025 — NPR — Staff at CDC and NIH are reeling as Trump administration cuts workforce
The Trump administration is slashing about 1,300 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Staff were notified Friday of the cuts.
February 14, 2025 — The Broadsheet — The Sick List: Survivor Enrollment Outpaced Responders in Trade Center Health Program for 2024
The World Trade Center Health Program has published statistics that paint a sobering portrait of need for medical care among the population of “survivors” of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
February 9, 2025 — Daily Mail — FDNY firefighter miraculously survived both towers falling down on 9/11. After years of health issues, he took his own life
On Saturday, Tommy Dunn took his own life after years of struggling with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a direct consequence of 9/11, which also caused him to develop asthma.
February 3, 2025 — People — 2 More N.Y. Firefighters Die from 9/11-Related Illnesses
Firefighter Thomas Dunn, 53, and Battalion Chief Dennis J. Collopy, 84, died from World Trade Center-related illnesses, the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA) said.
February 3, 2025 — New York Post — FDNY loses another member to 9/11-related illness, firefighter orgs say
Thomas Dunn, a former member of Engine Company 234 in Brooklyn, died Saturday of sicknesses born out of the massive response to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
February 1, 2025 — International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health — Mortality in a cohort of WTC-exposed law-enforcement officers compared to non-WTC law-enforcement officers
We found lower overall and cause-specific mortality rates in WTC LEOs compared with both the general population and Buffalo LEOs.
January 29, 2025 — New York Post — NYC ripped over claim that ‘staffing issue’ prevents 9/11 air toxins probe: ‘Can’t believe that it’s that difficult’
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber testified that her agency is not equipped to do the “deep dive” she believes is required to investigate the potential decades-old mystery surrounding Ground Zero.
January 28, 2025 — Work-Bites — Can New York City’s DOI Pierce the 9/11 WTC Coverup?
Resolution 560 is a binding resolution that relies on an obscure provision in the New York City Charter that would empower the City Department of Investigation to obtain and review all those documents.
January 27, 2025 — The Broadsheet — Indecent Lack of Exposure
If enacted, Ms. Brewer’s proposed “binding resolution” would mark the first time the City Council has invoked the authority granted by the City Charter to direct DOI to conduct an investigation.
January 23, 2025 — Stony Brook University News — Study Provides Evidence of Amyloidosis in the Brains of Some WTC Responders
Amyloid is a protein that can form abnormal deposits in tissues and organs. These deposits can cause a condition called amyloidosis, and are associated with diseases, one of which is Alzheimer’s disease.
January 23, 2025 — CBS News New York — 9/11 first responders may be at higher risk of early-onset dementia, study finds
Researchers at Stony Brook Medicine say they’ve discovered a link between exposure at Ground Zero and the presence of amyloid in the brain.
January 15, 2025 — Newsday — Stony Brook study: Long COVID risk increases with multiple infections, vaccination status in 9/11 essential workers
People who have had multiple bouts of COVID-19 or had it severely, and those who were unvaccinated when first infected had an increased risk of developing long COVID, according to a new study.
January 14, 2025 — NY Daily News — Produce the WTC documents: Decades of hiding the truth must end
The heroes and victims of 9/11 who are suffering terrible and sometimes lethal medical problems have a right to know what City Hall knew decades ago about the environmental risks from Ground Zero.
January 13, 2025 — Good Material (Substack) — LA is Toxic, and We Need to Talk About it
The LA fires are unprecedented in their scope and destruction. The best comparison I can think of – and one I haven’t seen anyone make yet – is 9/11.
January 12, 2025 — NY Daily News — City pushes to dismiss FOIA case over 9/11 Ground Zero toxin studies
The city is trying to quash a lawsuit seeking pivotal data on the toxins that hovered over lower Manhattan following the 9/11 terror attacks, claiming it doesn’t have the important documents.
January 9, 2025 — SILive.com — ‘This is a priority of mine’: Malliotakis to discuss 9/11 health program funding with Trump this weekend
Though the program is authorized to run until 2090, the rate at which those who are contracting illnesses in the wake of the 2001 terror attacks is increasing.
January 7, 2025 — The Broadsheet — Twisting in the Wind: Eleventh-Hour Deal Scuttles Federal Funding for WTC Health Program
The looming budget shortfall means that, if nothing changes, the program will have to begin reducing services and rationing care in approximately 24 months.
January 7, 2025 — Officer.com — N.J. State Police Major Dies from 9/11-Related Cancer
Major Jeffrey A. Burke died on Dec. 31, the New Jersey State Police said in a statement.
January 3, 2025 — MedicalXPress — UK firefighters exposed to toxic smoke at Grenfell Tower fire suffer debilitating health effects, research finds
Research has found that over a quarter of surveyed firefighters who attended the Grenfell Tower fire are now suffering from long-term health disorders.
January 3, 2025 — The Chief-Leader — WTC health care funding left out of budget deal
Earlier this year, advocates warned that, without congressional intervention, the program would have to start making cuts by 2027.
January 1, 2025 — New York Post — Congress must keep the promise America made to the ailing heroes of 9/11
Starting in 2027, responders and survivors who fall ill won’t be able to enroll in the program. Cutbacks in services to those who are being treated, many for cancers, will start soon after that.