Archive of Press Statements

May 14, 2025

Statement on Secretary Kennedy’s Testimony before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and His Response to Senator Kim’s Question

Thanks to Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), we have the first public acknowledgement from Secretary Kennedy that the cuts to the staff and the firing of Dr. John Howard at the World Trade Center Health Program were a “mistake”.

May 7, 2025

Statement On the Apparent Rehiring of the 16 WTCHP Staff That Were Terminated on Friday Night. But What About Dr. Howard?

This is good news—we’re glad it’s happening—but there are still major questions about the status of the program and its future operations and its ability to provide care to 9/11 responders and survivors.

May 5, 2025

Statement on President Trump Responding to a Question Last Night Regarding the Firing of the World Trade Center Health Program Staff

Mr. President, we would suggest that you speak to your Secretary of Health and Human Services.

May 3, 2025

Statement on the Termination of 16 World Trade Center Health Program Staff

Given all of this and the fact that the HHS press office continually refuses to answer questions about Dr. Howard’s status and continues to lie and say that there are not issues with the World Trade Center Health Program, we have some questions for Secretary Kennedy.

April 30, 2025

Dr. John Howard was NOT Reinstated as Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program

While Rep. Garbarino (R-NY) and colleagues were told by HHS that Howard was being restored—and they announced that in good faith—the truth is he was not restored as Director of the WTCHP and has apparently been in limbo since then.

April 23, 2025

Statement From Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act on Senator Ron Johnson’s Announcement of Hearings on 9/11 Conspiracy Theories

If Senator Johnson wants to have hearings on 9/11, he could have them to examine the cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program by the Trump Administration that are happening today.

April 5, 2025

Statement From Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act on the Announcement that Dr. John Howard was being Reinstated as Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program

First, Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act wants to thank Congressman Garbarino and the New York Republican Members of Congress, Representatives Lawler, LaLota and Malliotakis for working to convince the Trump administration to reinstate Dr. Howard as the Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program. They know that it is critical […]

April 1, 2025

Statement From Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act on the Trump Administration Firing of Dr. John Howard, Director of NIOSH and Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program, Along With Nearly All the Staff of NIOSH

In another example of chainsaw incompetence, the Trump Administration has fired Dr. John Howard, the Director of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP)—along with hundreds of NIOSH staff who perform critical health and safety missions.

February 26, 2025

Senators Gillibrand, Schumer and Representatives Garbarino, Nadler, Kean and Goldman Introduce Legislation to Deal with the Impending Funding Shortfall Facing the World Trade Center Health Program

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, the Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, Inc. applauded the introduction of the “9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2025″ (HR. 1410/S. 739) which addresses the impending funding shortfall facing the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). This bipartisan legislation—introduced by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Charles […]

February 21, 2025

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

Citizens for the Extension of the of the James Zadroga Act wants to thank President Trump for the CDC’s action in rescinding the cuts to the staff of the World Trade Center Health Program and ensuring that needed research on the impact of 9/11 on responders and survivors can continue. We appreciate the swift action […]