Push for Increased Funding for 9/11 Health Program
Survivors of the September 11 attacks, alongside city councillors, are calling for more financial support for the health program addressing 9/11-related illnesses, which is anticipated to run out of funds within the next decade.
Since its inception in 2011, the World Trade Center health program has offered cancer treatment, respiratory care, and mental health services to over 140,000 survivors. However, with what officials deem “inadequate” funding, new applicants will start to be turned away in 2027.
“This program saves lives,” stated John Feel, a survivor, as he stood outside City Hall.
The proposed 2025 Federal 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act aims to adjust funding for the CDC program based on enrollment numbers until 2090.
A New York City Council resolution set to be presented Wednesday urges the legislature to pass related measures without delay.
“It’s completely outrageous that we have to advocate for funding,” said Councillor Julie Menin, referring to the oversight by the U.S. Health Bureau’s Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Bureau, indicating that it feels like “playing Russian roulette” with lives.
Attorney Michael Barash, representing over 40,000 clients, revealed he loses about two clients daily due to 9/11-related illnesses. “It’s going to get worse,” he warned. “They should acknowledge their promise to never forget. Instead, it feels like they’ve forgotten.”
Barash noted that newly diagnosed survivors are currently facing a six-month wait for treatment.
Jason Cousin, a first responder, expressed his fears about the possibility of running out of funds before it’s his turn. At 49, he has severe emphysema and PTSD, and his condition has severely degraded his lung function.
Reflecting on his experiences from the attack, Cousin felt misled: “They told us there were no toxins in the air. We had N95 masks, but they got clogged with dust within a minute.” Since 2023, he has been relying on costly medications and has had extensive surgery for his sinuses.
He filed a claim with the program in March but has yet to attend his initial appointment, scheduled later this month. Cousin is anxious about whether he will be deemed “sick enough” to qualify for support, as he needs to show his lung capacity is below 70% at the appointment.
His lawyer has cautioned that even if approved, accessing funds could take another two years. His wife expressed her worries: “Two years? That’s not enough. My husband will be an emotional wreck by then.”
The couple has already drained over $100,000 in savings, accrued personal loan debt, and relocated to a more affordable area to manage their medical expenses.
This month, they launched a GoFundMe campaign to cope with their mounting costs.
Despite these challenges, Cousin stated that he has no regrets about his actions on 9/11. “I’d do it again tomorrow.”
