Democratic and Republican congressmen of New York have reacted vigorously against the trimming of personnel and subsidies of the Health Fund for the victims, which covers more than 130,000 people, including essential workers (firefighters, police and workers who helped to recess the bodies and clean the area) and survivors of. The cut ordered by the Government Efficiency Department (Doge, in its English acronym) directed by Elon Musk implies a 20% decrease in the program template.
Without distinction of ideology, the delegations of senators and representatives of New York in the Capitol agree that they will directly harm the beneficiaries, by delaying the treatments, many of them for life, who need exposure to toxic materials and environmental pollution. The Republican Administration has also canceled the subsidy to a research scholarship program for a comparative study on disease rates between New York firefighters and those of other departments in the country, and that tracks the existence of new health problems derived from what was known as zero zone.
Almost from the first minute of the second presidency of Donald Trump, the layoffs of workers in the trial period began, as well as compensation offers to the fixed personnel who would accept to leave, according to sources of the so -called health program of the World Trade Center (WTCHP, in its English acronym). Among the 16 employees in dismissed practices and an undetermined number of full -time workers who have caused decrease incentivized, the template cut has diminished by 20% the operational capacity of the program, denounces the Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act , the law that allowed the constitution of the fund.
“We cannot believe that the Trump administration or the new secretary of the HHS [siglas inglesas del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos]Robert Kennedy Jr., intends to harm the interveners and survivors of 11-S in the World Trade Center health program, but that will be the result of these cuts, ”said a group spokesman.
Legislators have warned that cuts imply a “disastrous” delay in waiting lists for patients with serious diseases, such as cancer, so they ask Trump and the federal government for the rectation of personnel, the return of the funds of Research, program armor against possible cuts and the help “necessary and deserve” survivors. To this end, Democratic senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have addressed Kennedy so that as a head of health it reverses the cuts.
“, He promised to work with Congress to ensure that first aid workers and the survivors of the 11-S continue to receive the attention they need,” says the letter that the two senators directed Kennedy last Monday. “Keep your commitment by reversing the precipitate and counterproductive dismissal of WTCHP personnel and explain how it will guarantee the continuity of quality care for affiliates” to the program. Kennedy, who has not ruled on the matter, has expressed to date his intention to, the prescription of antidepressants and any “taboo subject” in the field of health, in addition to proposing to send “Welfare Farms” to addicts to psychopharmaceuticals.
Separately, Republican legislators in New York, plus one of New Jersey, have also addressed Trump to ask him to hire the dismissed personnel and recover the subsidy of the program. Only a republican congressman for New York – refused to sign the letter. “This reduction of personnel will only make it more difficult than the [WTCHP]… attend to their members, who are the brave men and women who ran towards danger and helped after the 11-S terrorist attacks. ”
The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, also criticized the measure, describing her as cruel and unacceptable. “Thousands of New Yorkers made heroic sacrifices to save others during this attack and are suffering for life for their health as a result,” said James, a Democrat. “These heroes deserve the maximum respect and care on the part of their government.” One of the few things that unite Democrats and Republicans is the consideration as heroes of all those who served in the zero zone, as well as the feeling of patriotic pride for the response of the city a. “In addition to unacceptable, it is antipatriotic,” said Senator Schummer in the letter.
