Some World Trade Center Health Program workers who help those with 9/11 illness rehired, source says, in reversal of Trump administration budget cuts

The Trump administration has rehired the majority of the 16 federal workers in one office that helps those sickened by 9/11 toxins and who were abruptly fired last week, according to a source close to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

But the notice informing the workers of the reversal does not say when work would resume or whether the rehired employees were terminated in the first wave of layoffs in April, according to a copy of the letter obtained by Newsday.

The source said that the reversals were firings from last week, not the ones from early April.

"It’s still about as clear as mud, which seems to be the going thing right now," said one worker who was rehired.

The worker and the source did not want to be identified for fear of retribution.

The letter, dated May 6, is from Tom Nagy, acting chief human capital officer for the Department of Health and Human Services, a parent agency of the 9/11 unit: "You previously received a notice regarding the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) upcoming reduction in force (RIF). That notice is hereby revoked. You will not be affected by the upcoming RIF.”

Among those who have received notice of being rehired are a researcher, a physician and those who help survivors, first responders and others in the area of the 9/11 attacks and their aftermath enroll, get certified for medical help, seek health appointments and cut through government red tape, the worker who was rehired said.

Even before the cuts, the worker said, the office was understaffed and there was a backlog of people who need medicine, have medical debt from receiving treatment from 9/11 ailments, developed emerging diseases or all of these.

"We’re still getting people enrolled, 20-something years later," the worker said, adding: "Without those people to process the certification that puts a hold on people’s treatment. There could be people with active cancer who just found out that they’re eligible for this program.”

"The slogan with 9/11 was 'never forget,' and I think for our members — the survivors, the first responders — things like this make them feel forgotten," the worker said.

The White House press office couldn’t be reached Tuesday. 

Last month, Dr. John Howard, who was in charge of the program, and workers under him, were notified of their looming terminations as part of 10,000 staff cuts across Health and Human Services. The program provides no-cost medical monitoring and treatment for certified health conditions related to the 9/11 attacks. In the aftermath of the attacks, the federal government initially said the air was safe but later research showed it contained toxic substances .

The firings, last month with more last week, are part of a governmentwide gutting undertaken by President Donald Trump. Last month, the White House assured New York congressional Republicans that cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program would be reversed, including the firing of Howard and his staff.

The fate of Howard and other staff members remains unclear.

On Sunday, Trump told a Newsday reporter he was unaware of the cuts.
 

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.