9/11 Health Program Delays
Advocates question the slow hiring pace for the 9/11 survivor health program
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The World Trade Center Health Program, which serves 9/11 survivors and first responders with illness care, is facing a staffing crisis. The Department of Health and Human Services has been cleared to hire 120 positions and rehire 37 workers, but only 4 positions have been advertised online News Source. Advocates say the slow pace is leaving survivors without medical screenings and cancer treatments.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York called the government's lack of urgency on filling these jobs "completely unacceptable" News Source. Critics blame recent budget cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for creating backlogs that force 9/11 survivors to wait longer for care.
Only 4 of 120 New Positions Have Been Posted
The health program needs to fill staff vacancies quickly to serve its population. News Source reports that out of 120 approved positions, just 4 job postings have appeared online. The department can also rehire 37 former employees. This slow hiring process means survivors face weeks or months of waiting for basic medical care.
Medical Backlogs Force Delays in Cancer Treatment
9/11 survivors are experiencing serious delays in receiving health screenings and cancer treatments News Source. With fewer staff members available, the program cannot process claims fast enough. Survivors who developed illnesses from toxic dust exposure at the World Trade Center site now struggle to get timely care for conditions like lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Budget Cuts Blamed for Staffing Shortage
The Department of Government Efficiency pushed for budget reductions that affected the health program News Source. These cuts created a backlog of claims that still needs to be cleared. Advocates argue the government should prioritize hiring to help the survivors who answered the call after 9/11 and suffered health consequences.
Gillibrand Demands Urgent Action on Hiring
Senator Gillibrand represents New York, home to many 9/11 survivors and first responders News Source. She has publicly criticized the administration for moving too slowly on filling the vacant positions. Gillibrand says the government must act now to support those who were harmed by the terrorist attacks and their aftermath.
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