On Sunday, New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand criticized what they described as a “cruel” initiative by President Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to undermine the World Trade Center health program.
During a press conference, they revealed that 16 additional doctors and staff associated with the program were unexpectedly fired on Friday night.
Schumer, who serves as the Senate minority leader, stated that these late-night staff reductions highlighted the Trump administration’s intentions to dismantle healthcare and research services for over 137,000 responders and survivors of the September 11 attacks.
“Trump and his HHS Secretary RFK showed their true colors with the firing of another 16 workers on Friday night. It seems they prefer making these announcements when no one is watching,” Schumer remarked.
“This political turmoil jeopardizes the healthcare of our heroes,” he added.
Schumer also mentioned speaking with two long-time WTCHP employees—one doctor and one intake worker—who were among those recently let go.
“They played vital roles in helping those who rushed to the towers. They returned home on Friday only to find out they’d been fired,” Schumer said.
Established in 2005, WTCHP is facing significant cuts, leading to delays in cancer treatments for survivors, according to Schumer.
“People currently undergoing serious cancer treatment are no longer receiving care,” he told reporters.
Mariama James, 53, a participant in the WTCHP program, has lost both parents to 9/11-related cancer and expressed her frustration with the responses from Trump and RFK Jr.
“We’re continuously being misled,” she said. “My 23-year-old has been on a heart monitor for two weeks. There’s no room for further deception,” James emphasized.
She noted that 800 survivors and first responders couldn’t get certified for the program in April due to various complications.
Gillibrand expressed her outrage, asserting that a bipartisan effort helped establish the program based on scientific findings connecting 9/11 survivors to cancer and lung ailments.
“This isn’t a political matter; it’s about saving lives,” she stated.
Lawmakers pledged not to support any federal budget that doesn’t fully fund the program.
Schumer criticized New York Republicans for enabling this situation, insisting that funding for the program will be restored and that they would demand the Trump administration to leverage future budget discussions to reverse these cuts.
“They need to elevate their commitment,” he urged. “Don’t support a budget that fails to restore this critical program.”
