Trump Administration Rehires the Recently Fired, While Refiring the Recently Rehired
On Saturday, the administration of President Donald Trump moved to undo last week’s dismissal of Dr. John Howard, the administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program, which had caused a firestorm of bipartisan criticism from federal legislators. But after Dr. Howard was fired and before the administration moved to rehire him, the Trump administration told 16 staffers at the Health Program that they were scheduled to be laid off. This development came after more than a dozen program employees were fired in February, but then hired back in March, in the wake of a similar avalanche of pushback from federal lawmakers. This weekend’s development leaves in place last week’s dismissal of more than 850 health professionals at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a federal agency that provides critical support for the WTC Health Program.
Three Republican members of Congress from the New York metropolitan area (Mike Lawler, Nick LaLota, and Nicole Malliotakis) lobbied the White House to reinstate Dr. Howard. They said in a joint statement, “we appreciate the Trump administration’s shared commitment to caring for our September 11 responders and survivors. The firing of Dr. Howard and the subsequent impact on the World Trade Center Health Program was an unfortunate mistake, and we are deeply grateful for the Department of Health and Human Service’s [HHS’s] swift action to reinstate him as administrator of this critical program. The administration’s continued support of the program is encouraging, and we look forward to working together to address any remaining issues.”
A spokesman for HHS did not respond to a request for comment, because that agency is working under a mandatory “communications paused” ordered by the Trump White House.
Ben Chevat, executive director of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, said, “it is critical that Dr. Howard be able to continue his work on behalf of the 137,000 9/11 responders and survivors. But while the reinstatement announcement is good news and we are grateful for it, this is only the first step, but it is not enough. All of the staff of the World Trade Center Health Program, Centers for Disease Control, and NIOSH staff who support and work on behalf of September 11 responders and survivors need to be restored as well – immediately.”
Mr. Chevat added, “September 11 responders and survivors are facing immediate and real denial of critical care because of the Trump administration’s actions, despite [HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy’s] assertions that his ‘reorganization’ is not impacting services. Despite calling some program cuts a ‘mistake,’ Kennedy has maintained that no essential services or front-line jobs would be impacted by HHS’s massive restructuring. We know that his statement is not true.”
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer said, “it is revolting that President Trump and Secretary Kennedy fired staffers at the World Trade Center Health Program, including Dr. Howard, a Trump appointee who has dedicated his life to serving September 11 families and who’s respected by all sides of the aisle. Even with the apparent return of Dr. Howard, President Trump and Secretary Kennedy are effectively working to shut the World Trade Center Health Program down. This is the third time this has happened, so it’s pretty clear these are not ‘mistakes.’ It seems clear it’s on purpose.”
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “the uncertainty surrounding the Health Program is dangerous and unacceptable for the thousands of September 11 responders and survivors who risked their lives in our nation’s darkest hour. The Trump administration is using our nation’s heroes as political pawns while critical questions surrounding the program’s funding and staffing cuts remain. This is completely unacceptable and disrespectful to the September 11 responders and survivors who protected our nation when we were under attack and are now suffering from life-threatening health ramifications from that day.”
Lower Manhattan resident Mariama James, who is a survivor of the September 11 attacks, said, “this is a life or death situation, not the time to be playing musical chairs at HHS. The government can call all the pauses it wants to. September 11-related cancer isn’t going to listen and won’t stop coming. The Health Program staff must be restored now.”
The population affected by cuts to World Trade Center Health Program is considerable, with people currently covered in all 50 states. In recent years, the number of those made sick (and eventually killed) by exposure to September 11 toxins has surpassed the tally of people who died on that day, and the preponderance of newly diagnosed illness has shifted toward the survivor community rather than first responders.