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(Washington DC) – Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is making major cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program. The program provides medical treatment for the 132-thousand first responders and survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Despite Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledging to help 9/11 survivors, DOGE has laid off 20-percent of the WTC Health Program staff. New York Attorney General Letitia James called the cuts “reckless” and “cruel.” Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are demanding a reversal of the decision, saying “those who answered the call on 9/11 and are now sick with respiratory ailments, cancer and other conditions” and they must be taken care of.
A New York activist for 9/11 first responders is headed to Washington next week to fight 20-percent cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program planned by the Department of Government Efficiency.
John Feal says, “It’s callous, inhumane and cruel.” Feal, a construction worker from Long Island, says the cuts to the CDC directly impact people. He says 137-thousand 9/11 heroes, first responders and others will be impacted and that people will die waiting to get their illnesses certified.
Feal says he’ll meet with GOP senators and hopes for a sit-down with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr in an effort to get those DOGE cuts reversed.
