politics
HHS Reverses Staffing Cuts at World Trade Center Health Program
The Department of Health and Human Services has reversed a staffing reduction at the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides medical care to 9/11 first responders and survivors. Officials in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informed New York lawmakers this week that the program received approval to hire 37 additional employees to reach 120 full-time workers.
Apr 15, 4:59 PM·1m read1 source
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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reversed a staffing reduction at the World Trade Center Health Program. The program provides medical care to first responders and survivors of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Officials informed lawmakers this week that the program received approval to hire 37 more employees. This brings the total to a goal of 120 full-time workers.
The decision followed inquiries from lawmakers.
The World Trade Center Health Program addresses health needs resulting from exposure to toxins at the attack sites.
More than 30,000 first responders and survivors have enrolled in the program over the last three years to receive care. After a return to the White House, the program's staff fell to 84 due to a hiring freeze that lasted until last October. The staffing shortages led to delays in claims processing, disruptions in treatment authorizations, and backlogs in appeals for enrollment denials.
Some participants waited up to a year for resolutions. Additionally, $20 million in research contracts to study cardiac, autoimmune, and cognitive issues related to 9/11 toxic exposure were delayed. Lawmakers sent a letter in March expressing concern about staff firings and reassignments.
The letter noted that not all fired staff were rehired, and several individuals were reassigned to other agencies, including at least two public health service corps officers. One reassignment involved support for health care work related to immigration enforcement.
In February, Congress passed a $3 billion funding bill to address a budget shortfall for the program.
The bill was signed into law in early February. The staffing reversal aims to restore capacity ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in seven months. The program continues to monitor and treat illnesses linked to 9/11 exposures. Future hiring will help reduce backlogs and support ongoing research and care delivery.
