Statement From Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act on the Announcement that Dr. John Howard was being Reinstated as Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program
First, Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act wants to thank Congressman Garbarino and the New York Republican Members of Congress, Representatives Lawler, LaLota and Malliotakis for working to convince the Trump administration to reinstate Dr. Howard as the Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program.
They know that it is critical that Dr. Howard be able to continue his work on behalf of the 137,000 9/11 responders and survivors.
Congressman Garbarino has been working furiously since it was disclosed that Dr Howard had been removed to get this reversed and get him reinstated.
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 (WTCHP) , the CDC and NIOSH staff that support and work on behalf of 9/11 responders and survivors need to be restored as well-immediately.
That includes:
- The 16 World Trade Center Staff of the 86 remaining WTCHP who have in fact been terminated in Cincinnati Ohio and Morgantown West Virgina after the Trump administration said that no WTCHP staff have been terminated need to be reinstated.
- All of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that handled contract issues for the program, without which the programs clinics will not be able to function need to be reinstated
- The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) staff who supported the program, the Doctors, Epidemiologists, Research Grants staff and all the administrative staff that run the program work need to be reinstated, immediately.
- Now that he is reinstated, Dr Howard will need the HHS hiring freeze removed so that staff that took the buyout can be replaced and the full authorized staff level can be hired.
- Finally, the HHS “Communication Pause” needs to be lifted for this program so that it’s committees and research process can get back to work.
Press reports show that program members, 9/11 responders and survivors are in fact facing immediate and real denial of critical care because of the Trump Administration’s actions despite Secretary Kennedys 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.
We will continue to work with our Representatives, from both sides of the aisle who are working to reverse all of these cuts, to get this done.