Statement on Bipartisan Call to Secretary Kennedy to Reappoint John Howard as NIOSH Director and WTC Health Program
As the nation approaches the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act applauded Congressman Andrew Garbarino and Senator Kristen Gillibrand for leading 26 bipartisan colleagues to call on Secretary Kennedy to protect the work of the World Trade Center Health Program by reappointing Dr. John Howard. The World Trade Center Health Program provides health care to over 140,000 9/11 responders and survivors who live in every state and 434 out of 435 Congressional districts.
We want to thank each of the Members of the Senate and House who joined this call.
Members of Congress: Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Laura A. Gillen (D-NY), Nicholas A. Langworthy (R-NY), Dan Goldman (D-NY), John W. Mannion (D-NY), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) , Yvette Clarke (D-NY) , Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Ritchie Torres(D-NY) , Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Thomas Kean (R-NJ), Michael Lawler (R-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), Herbert Conaway, Nick LaLota(R-NY), Paul D. Tonko (D-NY), Josh Riley (D-NY), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Patrick Ryan (D-NY), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ) and Timothy M. Kennedy (D-NY).
Senators: Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).
As their letter to Secretary Kennedy states:
We write regarding the upcoming expiration of Dr. John Howard’s term as Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP).
Support for the World Trade Center Health Program remains one of the strongest bipartisan commitments in Congress. The WTCHP provides critical medical monitoring and treatment services to more than 140,000 9/11 responders and survivors across all 50 states and in 434 of 435 congressional districts.
Congress recently reaffirmed that commitment by ensuring that the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, signed into law by President Trump, permanently addressed the WTCHP’s projected funding shortfall and provided the resources necessary to operate without interruption through 2040. As we approach the 25th anniversary of September 11, this action delivered long-overdue certainty to responders and survivors nationwide.
We also appreciate the steps you and your Department have recently taken to address concerns regarding staffing shortages, delayed research grants, and pending petitions related to additional covered conditions. We look forward to continued progress on these issues.
We write today to respectfully urge you to reappoint Dr. Howard to another six-year term before the 25th anniversary of September 11. Under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, the NIOSH Director serves as Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program. Dr. Howard has served in those roles with distinction for more than two decades, having first been appointed by Secretary Tommy Thompson in 2002 and most recently reappointed by Secretary Alex Azar during President Trump’s first administration.
Throughout administrations of both parties, Dr. Howard has earned the trust and confidence of Congress, the 9/11 community, healthcare providers, researchers, and WTCHP staff. His leadership has provided continuity, stability, and institutional knowledge throughout the federal government’s response to the long-term health consequences of the September 11 attacks.
From the earliest monitoring efforts following the attacks to the creation and growth of the World Trade Center Health Program, Dr. Howard has been a steady and effective leader. His tenure has helped ensure continuity of care, consistency in WTCHP administration, and confidence among Program participants across the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Shanksville communities.
As the WTCHP enters a new chapter with funding secured through 2040, maintaining experienced leadership is especially important. Reappointing Dr. Howard would provide stability for Program participants, providers, researchers, and staff while reinforcing the federal government’s enduring commitment to those who continue to live with the health consequences of 9/11.
We believe that reappointing Dr. Howard before the upcoming anniversary would send a powerful message of continued support for 9/11 responders and survivors and help ensure a seamless transition into the WTCHP’s next phase.
Accordingly, we respectfully urge you to reappoint Dr. Howard to another six-year term as Director of NIOSH and Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program as soon as practicable.
Here is a copy of the letter.
Here is Rep. Garbarino’s press release.
Benjamin Chevat, Executive Director of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, stated:
A year ago, Secretary Kennedy was firing World Trade Center Health Program staff including Dr. Howard, then hiring them back then firing other program staff until he admitted it was all a ‘mistake’ and hired them back again.
Now, a year later, he has said that he will let the program fill the 37 staff vacancies that the program was blocked from filling. He is finally allowing the program to fully function without delays that understaffing has caused.
He is finally allowing the millions in annual research grants provided by the program to finally proceed, a year late.
He is finally easing restrictions on the program’s advisory boards having meetings.
He is finally allowing decisions of pending petitions to add conditions to be announced after extensive delays.
But as we approach the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, members of Congress from both parties are correctly expressing concerns that Dr. Howard’s term as program administrator is coming to an end and that he needs to be reappointed.
This reappointment will allow Secretary Kennedy to show he has learned his lesson from last year and is fully committed to the health care of 9/11 responders.
I want to thank Congressman Garbarino and Senator Gillibrand and all of the members who joined with them in this bipartisan effort to get Secretary Kennedy to do the right thing.
Secretary Kennedy needs to act and reappoint Dr. Howard before the upcoming Anniversary to show his commitment to the program after the last year and half of disruptions he has caused.
You can read about the impact of Secretary Kennedy on the World Trade Center Health Program here on our website.
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