U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand issued a joint letter demanding that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reverse cuts that impacted the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP).
Schumer and Gillibrand said that cuts to the WTCHP have already led to the termination of at least 16 program staff according to advocates, with others taking the Trump Administration’s “buy out,” reducing those who work on or supervise the WTCHP by approximately 20% of total staff. This is on top of additional CDC announced cuts to research grants that reportedly will prevent the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) from providing members with treatment coverage for new, 9/11-related health conditions, and other research cuts set to negatively impact lifesaving research on 9/11 conditions and treatments.
The WTCHP helps pay for first responders diagnosed with conditions related to their service on 9/11. WTCHP program covers the medical expenses for 9/11-related health conditions, including many types of cancers, respiratory illnesses, and more.
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. According to advocates, this will impact 9/11 responders and survivors from the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the Shanksville Crash site, who are in all 50 States and in 434 out of 435 Congressional Districts. Advocates say it will delay certifications for treatment of cancers and other conditions, delay pending petitions for expanded healthcare coverage, and overall increase wait times and negatively impact healthcare coverage as fewer staff will be available to respond to complaints by patients and intervene when there are issues with prescriptions and treatment.
