WASHINGTON — Hiring has been restored for the World Trade Center Health Program, a move expected to ease staffing shortages that have delayed care, treatment approvals, and claims processing for thousands of 9/11 responders and survivors.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. approved hiring for 37 long-vacant positions, bringing the program closer to its federally authorized staffing level of 120 employees. Before the move, the program had been operating with about 83 staff members, well below full strength.
The World Trade Center Health Program provides medical monitoring and treatment for people whose health was impacted by toxic exposure following the September 11 terrorist attacks. In recent years, advocates and lawmakers have warned that staffing shortages were creating major backlogs, leaving some responders and survivors waiting months for treatment decisions, claims processing, and other critical services.
Pressure had been building on federal officials to address the problem as enrollment in the program continued to grow. Reports indicate roughly 140,000 people are now covered by the program, with about 30,000 new members added over the last three years. That growing demand, combined with reduced staffing, strained the system and intensified calls for action.
Lawmakers and advocates say the restored hiring should help reduce delays and improve access to care for the 9/11 community, though concerns remain about lingering backlogs and the long-term stability of the program.
The staffing change comes as the federal government faces renewed scrutiny over how the program has been managed, especially with the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaching. For many responders and survivors still battling cancer, respiratory disease, and other long-term health conditions, advocates say restoring staff is an important step toward making sure they receive the care they were promised.
