New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed her strong opposition to the Trump administration's recent staffing reductions affecting the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). The program, overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), provides medical care for survivors and first responders from the September 11 attacks. Attorney General James released a statement condemning the cuts, describing them as a betrayal of those who risked their lives.
"When our country was attacked, thousands of New Yorkers put their lives on the line to save others, and they deserve the care that we’ve fought for over these last 24 years," James stated. "The Trump administration’s decision to continuously jeopardize the World Trade Center Health Program is a cruel betrayal of our heroes. These cuts must be reversed, and the World Trade Center Health Program must be protected."
The WTCHP was established in 2011 and serves over 132,000 individuals affected by the attacks. Earlier attempts by the Trump administration to reduce staffing through buyouts and firings were reversed after officials, including Attorney General James, intervened. However, recent decisions have led to more than 10,000 staff members being cut from HHS, placing WTCHP services at risk once again. Dr. John Howard, the program's administrator, was among those dismissed, alongside almost all personnel from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, which plays a vital role in supporting the WTCHP.