Federal employees who assist run the well being program for Sept. 11 first responders and survivors have been rehired after a bipartisan outcry pressured the Trump administration to reverse deep cuts that threatened to hobble this system, lawmakers mentioned Wednesday.
Nearly all the estimated 16 fired World Commerce Middle Well being Program employees have been advised this week they’re being reinstated, following weeks of uncertainty over the draconian cuts by the White Home and Elon Musk’s Division of Authorities Effectivity.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer D-N.Y., speaks throughout “Hands Off Social Security ” rally on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Could 5, 2025. (AP Photograph/Jose Luis Magana)
Schumer accused President Trump and Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of placing “sick 9/11 survivors through a lot of pain with these gratuitous firings.”
“The Trump administration has much work to gain even a modicum of trust at the WTCHP,” Schumer added.
Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-New York) additionally hailed the rehirings, which he mentioned got here after each Democratic and Republican lawmakers pushed the administration to take motion.
The reversal of the cuts was confirmed by program director Dr. James Howard, who praised HHS in a press release for “swift action to address these notices and return critical program staff to work to help assist and provide ongoing services,”
The motion seems for now to finish the chaotic finances cuts imposed on this system by the Trump administration. Howard and several other staffers have been fired in March as a part of a large effort spearheaded by Musk’s DOGE to downsize the federal authorities.
After a flurry of bipartisan outcry, the White Home mentioned on the time that it was reversing the staffing cuts and reinstating Howard.
Three FDNY workers have been unable to get therapy plans authorized for current most cancers diagnoses.
After the recent spherical of criticism, the well being program resumed enrollments and therapy approvals. Howard was absolutely reinstated to his put up.
Now, the employees, amounting to almost 20% of this system’s workers, have been advised they won’t be fired in spite of everything.
This system offers well being companies to about 137,000 first responders and survivors who suffered accidents and diseases attributable to the toxins that swirled round Floor Zero throughout 9/11 and the weeks that adopted.
About 83,000 have at the least one licensed 9/11 sickness from their publicity throughout and after the fear assaults on the World Commerce Middle, in addition to the hijacked airplane crashes close to Shanksville, Pa., and on the Pentagon.
Initially Printed: Could 7, 2025 at 11:23 AM EDT
