New York Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote a Monday letter to newly minted Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging him to reverse current cuts to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) that impression a program for 9/11 first responders.
“To say funding for 9/11 first responders is government waste is outrageous and insulting. These brutal cuts mean layoffs for staff who have dedicated their careers to caring for our 9/11 survivors. It means delayed care for our sick first responders,” Schumer stated in a Tuesday assertion concerning the reported reduce to the World Commerce Middle Well being Program (WTCHP).
This system supplies screenings, analysis and drugs to greater than 100,000 survivors recognized with situations associated to their service on 9/11 for gratis.
“It is telling 9/11 survivors that after they risked everything to protect us, we can’t support their healthcare needed,” Schumer added. “I’m demanding HHS Secretary Kennedy immediately reverse these cuts and terminations of the people who provide the healthcare to those who answered the call of duty on 9/11 and now suffer from cancer, respiratory illness and more.”
The Trump administration moved to chop probationary positions throughout the federal authorities, together with roughly 1,300 CDC staff.
Schumer and Gillibrand stated the cuts to the WTCHP have already led to the termination of not less than 16 program workers, in response to advocates, whereas others accepted the Trump administration’s “buyout,” decreasing the WTCHP complete workers by roughly 20 p.c.
“Slashing funding and laying off workers who run this vital program will have a devastating impact on its ability to provide sick responders and survivors with the care they need,” Gillibrand wrote.
“This is a betrayal of our heroes who stepped up and risked their lives to put our community back together in one of our nation’s darkest hours, and we will not let it stand,” she continued. “HHS Secretary Kennedy must reverse these cuts and terminations immediately.”
