Status of rehired World Trade Center Health Program leader remains unclear, advocates say
Advocates for the World Trade Center Health Program are raising alarms that the agency's leader — Dr. John Howard — has yet to be reinstated nearly a month after the White House assured lawmakers he would be restored following a blitz of cuts. Credit: Getty Images/Win McNamee
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WASHINGTON — Advocates for the World Trade Center Health Program are raising alarms that the agency's leader, Dr. John Howard, has yet to be reinstated nearly a month after the White House assured lawmakers he would be restored after a blitz of cuts.
Howard, who ran the program that has long provided health care to 9/11 first responders and those who developed illnesses linked to their time near the attack sites, was laid off April 1 along with 10,000 employees of the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency oversees the World Trade Center Health Program.
After New York lawmakers — including Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) — mounted a pressure campaign, White House officials notified lawmakers April 5 that Howard and others laid off from the program would be rehired.
But an internal email obtained by the 9/11 watchdog group Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, provided to Newsday on Wednesday, shows that as of April 11 Howard’s return to the program was still not confirmed.
"Unfortunately, we have not been able to resume sending program letters, including enrollment or certification letters. We are still waiting on confirmation of Dr. Howard's status," reads the email written by Lauren Cimineri, who lists her position as health benefits branch chief for the World Trade Center program and other Health and Human Services agencies.
The Department of Health and Human Services and White House press office did not immediately return emails seeking comment on Wednesday and Thursday.
Garbarino, in a statement to Newsday, said he has "been in constant contact with HHS and have repeatedly and forcefully emphasized how critical it is that the World Trade Center Health Program operate without disruption."
"After extensive engagement, I was assured that Dr. Howard has the authority to fully carry out his duties as administrator," Garbarino said. "There are still issues that need to be addressed, which will require continued engagement. I value my partnership with the advocates and program participants and will fight tooth and nail for them whenever necessary. The administration knows I will be a relentless voice on this issue."
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the senate minority leader, in a statement called on President Donald Trump to act quick to fully restore the program, accusing the administration of playing "shell games"
"This is not 'never forget,' this is 'screw you,'" Schumer said. "We promised to always have the backs of those who rushed to the towers on 9/11 and those who worked on the pile, and now they have diseases that are killing them, and Trump is playing games with their health care."
Benjamin Chevat, executive director of Citizens for Extension of the James Zadroga Act, said in a statement that the Department of Government Efficiency’s "AI bots that made these cuts, do not understand" the nature of the cuts that were executed.
"If the World Trade Center Health Program is to function, Dr. Howard needs to be fully restored to his position," Chevat said of the program that provides health care for 137,000 ailing 9/11 first responders and survivors across the country.
Advocates and New York lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have been fighting for the preservation of the program, which already faced the threat of a first round of cuts in February. At that time, 11 probationary workers were laid off before the White House pledged to reverse those cuts amid public outcry and pressure from lawmakers.
Howard’s absence and other staffing cuts are inhibiting access to care, said Dr. David Prezant, chief medical officer and director of the FDNY’s World Trade Center Health Program in a statement.
Prezant said he knows of three patients who could not receive required certifications for care.
"One of these patients has life-threatening pancreatic cancer and we cannot authorize treatment because he is enrolled in the WTC Health Program but that program is refusing to certify him," Prezant said.
WASHINGTON — Advocates for the World Trade Center Health Program are raising alarms that the agency's leader, Dr. John Howard, has yet to be reinstated nearly a month after the White House assured lawmakers he would be restored after a blitz of cuts.
Howard, who ran the program that has long provided health care to 9/11 first responders and those who developed illnesses linked to their time near the attack sites, was laid off April 1 along with 10,000 employees of the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency oversees the World Trade Center Health Program.
After New York lawmakers — including Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) — mounted a pressure campaign, White House officials notified lawmakers April 5 that Howard and others laid off from the program would be rehired.
But an internal email obtained by the 9/11 watchdog group Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, provided to Newsday on Wednesday, shows that as of April 11 Howard’s return to the program was still not confirmed.
WHAT NEWSDAY FOUND
- Advocates for the World Trade Center Health Program are raising alarms that the agency's leader, Dr. John Howard, has yet to be reinstated nearly a month after the White House assured lawmakers he would be restored after a blitz of cuts.
- After New York lawmakers — including Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) — mounted a pressure campaign, White House officials notified lawmakers April 5 that Howard and others laid off from the program would be rehired.
- But an internal email obtained by a 9/11 watchdog group shows that as of April 11, Howard’s return to the program was still not confirmed.
"Unfortunately, we have not been able to resume sending program letters, including enrollment or certification letters. We are still waiting on confirmation of Dr. Howard's status," reads the email written by Lauren Cimineri, who lists her position as health benefits branch chief for the World Trade Center program and other Health and Human Services agencies.
The Department of Health and Human Services and White House press office did not immediately return emails seeking comment on Wednesday and Thursday.
Garbarino, in a statement to Newsday, said he has "been in constant contact with HHS and have repeatedly and forcefully emphasized how critical it is that the World Trade Center Health Program operate without disruption."
"After extensive engagement, I was assured that Dr. Howard has the authority to fully carry out his duties as administrator," Garbarino said. "There are still issues that need to be addressed, which will require continued engagement. I value my partnership with the advocates and program participants and will fight tooth and nail for them whenever necessary. The administration knows I will be a relentless voice on this issue."
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the senate minority leader, in a statement called on President Donald Trump to act quick to fully restore the program, accusing the administration of playing "shell games"
"This is not 'never forget,' this is 'screw you,'" Schumer said. "We promised to always have the backs of those who rushed to the towers on 9/11 and those who worked on the pile, and now they have diseases that are killing them, and Trump is playing games with their health care."
Benjamin Chevat, executive director of Citizens for Extension of the James Zadroga Act, said in a statement that the Department of Government Efficiency’s "AI bots that made these cuts, do not understand" the nature of the cuts that were executed.
"If the World Trade Center Health Program is to function, Dr. Howard needs to be fully restored to his position," Chevat said of the program that provides health care for 137,000 ailing 9/11 first responders and survivors across the country.
Advocates and New York lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have been fighting for the preservation of the program, which already faced the threat of a first round of cuts in February. At that time, 11 probationary workers were laid off before the White House pledged to reverse those cuts amid public outcry and pressure from lawmakers.
Howard’s absence and other staffing cuts are inhibiting access to care, said Dr. David Prezant, chief medical officer and director of the FDNY’s World Trade Center Health Program in a statement.
Prezant said he knows of three patients who could not receive required certifications for care.
"One of these patients has life-threatening pancreatic cancer and we cannot authorize treatment because he is enrolled in the WTC Health Program but that program is refusing to certify him," Prezant said.
Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.
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