Pallone to Trump Admin: Stop 9/11 Health Program’s Care Disruptions, Staff Terminations

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today sent a letter to Trump's Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding answers about the recent staffing upheaval and treatment delays at the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), which provides medical care to more than 132,000 9/11 responders and survivors.

Pallone voiced concern that while the Trump administration has partially walked back some terminations, "the chaos you are inflicting upon the program is extremely troubling."

The New Jersey Congressman wrote that despite the alleged reinstatement of some employees, "16 World Trade Center Health Program staff members were informed of their termination, effective by early summer," disrupting critical operations including "enrollment, health condition certification, research oversight, and contract management."

"These actions, coupled with the mass terminations of employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health announced in February, severely disrupt mission critical operations for the World Trade Center Health Program," Pallone continued in his letter to Kennedy. "These actions break our nation's vow to the 9/11 first responder and survivor community to provide the injured and their families the aid they need and deserve."

The letter also cites alarming real-world consequences, including testimony from Dr. David Prezant, chief medical officer for the New York City Fire Department and Director of its World Trade Center Health Program, who said a 9/11 responder with life-threatening pancreatic cancer was told he couldn't start chemotherapy, while others with new cancer diagnoses were also denied care.

"There were potentially more than 1,200 condition certifications paused, including for cancer," Pallone wrote.

Pallone called on Secretary Kennedy to "cease any additional actions to terminate staff, providers, or limit any WTCHP program operations," and to provide "a comprehensive briefing on the recent actions you've taken regarding the World Trade Center Health Program and the specific actions you, as Secretary, will take to ensure the program remains fully equipped to deliver life-saving care."

The World Trade Center Health Program provides essential treatment and monitoring to responders and survivors from Ground Zero, the Pentagon and the Shanksville, Pennsylvania, crash site. It provides care in all 50 states and nearly every congressional district.

The full letter can be found hereand below:

Secretary Kennedy,

I write to you today to strongly protest the latest staffing reductions for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). The Department's actions have caused chaos and confusion, leading directly to the denial of cancer treatments and the prevention of hundreds more from accessing medical treatment.

Despite reporting of the alleged reinstatement of 15 employees of the originally terminated 16 employees, the chaos you are inflicting upon the program is extremely troubling.[1] The most recent data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the WTCHP provides essential medical treatment, monitoring, and research to more than 132,000 first responders and survivors from the World Trade Center and lower Manhattan, the Pentagon, and the Shanksville, Pennsylvania crash site. The program serves individuals in all 50 states and nearly every Congressional district.[2] These actions, coupled with the mass terminations of employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announced in February, severely disrupt mission critical operations for the WTCHP. These actions break our nation's vow to the 9/11 first responder and survivor community to provide the injured and their families the aid they need and deserve.[3]

On May 2, 2025, 16 WTCHP staff members were informed of their termination, effective by early summer.[4] These career civil servants perform vital functions, including enrollment, health condition certification, research oversight, and contract management for the WTCHP. They were placed on administrative leave despite previous assurances from you that no such terminations would occur.[5] Meanwhile, it is my understanding that until there was public outrage, Dr. John Howard's role overseeing the program remained in limbo. He was recently reinstated to his post, but only until June 2, 2025. This is no way to run this critical health care program.

Your reckless decisions have devastating real-world consequences. Alarmingly, Dr. David Prezant, chief medical officer of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and Director of its World Trade Center Health Program, stated that a 9/11 responder with life-threatening pancreatic cancer was told that he couldn't start chemotherapy.[6] There are also at least three FDNY employees who have been diagnosed with cancers believed to be related to their service at Ground Zero, who have not been able to get approval for care.[7] There has even been reports of a full halt to enrollment of any new responders and survivors.^[8] Furthermore, there were potentially more than 1,200 condition certifications that were paused, including for cancer, preventing patients from accessing medical treatment and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.[9] This is a travesty.

As a result of your chaos and confusion, the WTCHP will continue to remain severely understaffed and deeply destabilized. By design, the program is meant to be science-driven, apolitical, and survivor-focused. It is now being subjected to opaque internal decisions and political interference that put the health and safety of thousands of Americans in jeopardy. To date, your department has not provided a clear or honest explanation. The Department's communications have denied basic facts already confirmed by internal documents and public reporting.[10] The lack of transparency and accountability is unacceptable.

This is not a partisan issue. Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, along with survivors, advocates, and 9/11 families, are united in their deep concern and outrage. The World Trade Center Health Program must be preserved, fully staffed, and protected-not hollowed out under the Trump Administration's false flag of ending waste.

I demand you cease any additional actions to terminate staff, providers, or limit WTCHP program operations. I demand transparency in the Department's decision making on past and future administrative actions to this program. As such, please provide me and my staff with a comprehensive briefing no later than May 22 on the recent actions you have taken regarding the WTCHP and the specific actions you will take to ensure the program remains fully equipped to deliver life-saving care to current participants and future enrollees.

I look forward to your prompt response to this critical issue to our 9/11 heroes.

Sincerely,

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