Garbarino: World Trade Center Health Program administrator fired
Dr. John Howard, the director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program, has been fired, U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) confirmed late Tuesday through a spokesperson. Credit: Newsday/Viorel Florescu
The federal administrator of the program that covers health care treatment for first responders and survivors of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks was fired Tuesday.
A spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) confirmed in a text message to Newsday late Tuesday that Dr. John Howard, the director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program, had been let go.
"I have already been in contact with the White House and have a meeting set for tomorrow about this unfortunate mistake," Garbarino said through the spokesperson. "I hope they reverse it as quickly as they have other mistakes related to the 9/11 health program."
The White House press office could not be reached by telephone for comment late Tuesday. Also late Tuesday, Howard was still listed as the director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health on its website. Howard also continued to be listed as the administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program on its website.
Howard's work has been critical to first responders on 9/11 getting medical treatment for illnesses contracted from working at Ground Zero, said John Feal, leader of the Nesconset-based FealGood Foundation, in a statement.
"The World Trade Center Health Program works because of its leadership from Dr. Howard and those that have worked tirelessly in NIOSH on issues directly for the 9/11 Community. ... You have spit in the faces of the 9/11 Community for the last time," said Feal, a demolition supervisor on Sept. 11, 2001, who was seriously injured in the rescue operation.
The "cuts to NIOSH will be devastating to the World Trade Center Health Program and must be stopped," said Benjamin Chevat, the executive director of the Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act in a statement. "The first step must be restoring Dr. Howard as NIOSH Director immediately."
The news of Howard’s firing arrived more than a month after the Trump administration reversed the firings of 11 employees of the World Trade Center Health Program, Newsday previously reported. Proposed cuts to research contracts to probe cancer rates among survivors and first responders were also reversed.
Howard was first appointed to lead the NIOSH, which is under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2002, according to the CDC website. He was reappointed in 2009, 2015 and 2021. The program conducts research and makes recommendations to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses, the CDC website says.
"This callous treatment of our 9/11 heroes must end and the vital workers who staff it must be rehired," said Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats from New York, in a statement provided to Newsday by a spokesperson.
Several health employees throughout the U.S. Health and Human Services Department were informed Tuesday that their positions were being terminated, The Associated Press reported.
The department announced a massive restructuring effort Thursday which would see NIOSH and several other health agencies folded into a new entity, the Administration for a Healthy America. The plan aims to save an annual $1.8 billion by eliminating around 10,000 full-time positions.
"Over time, bureaucracies like HHS become wasteful and inefficient even when most of their staff are dedicated and competent civil servants," Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement Thursday. "This overhaul will be a win-win for taxpayers and for those that HHS serves. That’s the entire American public, because our goal is to Make America Healthy Again."
The federal administrator of the program that covers health care treatment for first responders and survivors of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks was fired Tuesday.
A spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) confirmed in a text message to Newsday late Tuesday that Dr. John Howard, the director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program, had been let go.
"I have already been in contact with the White House and have a meeting set for tomorrow about this unfortunate mistake," Garbarino said through the spokesperson. "I hope they reverse it as quickly as they have other mistakes related to the 9/11 health program."
The White House press office could not be reached by telephone for comment late Tuesday. Also late Tuesday, Howard was still listed as the director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health on its website. Howard also continued to be listed as the administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program on its website.
Howard's work has been critical to first responders on 9/11 getting medical treatment for illnesses contracted from working at Ground Zero, said John Feal, leader of the Nesconset-based FealGood Foundation, in a statement.
"The World Trade Center Health Program works because of its leadership from Dr. Howard and those that have worked tirelessly in NIOSH on issues directly for the 9/11 Community. ... You have spit in the faces of the 9/11 Community for the last time," said Feal, a demolition supervisor on Sept. 11, 2001, who was seriously injured in the rescue operation.
The "cuts to NIOSH will be devastating to the World Trade Center Health Program and must be stopped," said Benjamin Chevat, the executive director of the Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act in a statement. "The first step must be restoring Dr. Howard as NIOSH Director immediately."
The news of Howard’s firing arrived more than a month after the Trump administration reversed the firings of 11 employees of the World Trade Center Health Program, Newsday previously reported. Proposed cuts to research contracts to probe cancer rates among survivors and first responders were also reversed.
Howard was first appointed to lead the NIOSH, which is under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2002, according to the CDC website. He was reappointed in 2009, 2015 and 2021. The program conducts research and makes recommendations to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses, the CDC website says.
"This callous treatment of our 9/11 heroes must end and the vital workers who staff it must be rehired," said Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats from New York, in a statement provided to Newsday by a spokesperson.
Several health employees throughout the U.S. Health and Human Services Department were informed Tuesday that their positions were being terminated, The Associated Press reported.
The department announced a massive restructuring effort Thursday which would see NIOSH and several other health agencies folded into a new entity, the Administration for a Healthy America. The plan aims to save an annual $1.8 billion by eliminating around 10,000 full-time positions.
"Over time, bureaucracies like HHS become wasteful and inefficient even when most of their staff are dedicated and competent civil servants," Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement Thursday. "This overhaul will be a win-win for taxpayers and for those that HHS serves. That’s the entire American public, because our goal is to Make America Healthy Again."
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SARRA SOUNDS OFF: 1970s All-Decade team member Risa Zander On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," an interview with former Sachem head coach Risa Zander and a preview of St. Anthony's girls lacrosse team.
