By Erik Bascome
Staten Island Advance
NEW YORK — Recent funding cuts to a vital 9/11 healthcare program have been halted after strong opposition from New York lawmakers.
The World Trade Center Health Program, which supports around 132,000 people affected by the September 11 attacks, was facing major budget and staffing reductions. This was part of a broader effort by the federal government to cut expenses.
However, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) announced that the program will not be impacted, thanks to significant bipartisan support from fellow legislators.
“As a native New Yorker, I appreciate the President’s understanding of the importance of supporting first responders and 9/11 survivors. This is why we welcomed the White House’s decision to stop cuts that would have threatened the program’s staffing and funding for vital research,” Malliotakis stated.
She emphasized the need for careful budget cuts, stating, “When addressing our nation’s $37 trillion debt, we must be precise to avoid unnecessary anxiety and consequences.”
The WTC Health Program is funded by the government until 2027, but funding past that point was not included in a federal spending bill passed in December 2024.
Malliotakis is committed to ensuring ongoing support for the program, which provides care for health issues related to 9/11. “I, alongside my New York colleagues, will keep working in a bipartisan way to guarantee that 9/11 heroes receive their benefits and that The Zadroga Act remains fully funded after 2027,” she added.
Other New York officials have also fought to restore funding for the program. Recently, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging him to reverse the cuts.
“You assured us that you would collaborate with Congress to maintain care for 9/11 first responders and survivors. We ask that you uphold your promise and reverse these damaging cuts,” the senators wrote.
