Funding for 9/11 health research was restored by the federal government on Friday after bipartisan outrage erupted over Elon Musk’s deep cuts to the fund that provides health care to Ground Zero first responders and survivors.
Around 20% of the 9/11 health program’s workforce will also be rehired after they were abruptly fired earlier in the week, according to a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control.
“Staff from the World Trade Center Health Program will return to work,” the CDC spokesperson said.
The estimated $250,000 cut in funding to the program carried out by the Fire Department of New York was quickly rescinded amid howls of opposition by Democrats and Republicans alike.
The FDNY said the planned cuts to the research, which compares illness rates of New York’s Bravest to other big city fire departments, would have “hinder(ed) our ability to provide WTC members with treatment coverage for new conditions.”
Another research program related to cancers potentially caused by 9/11 exposure was also reinstated.
President Trump and Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency then agreed to reverse the 20% cut in staff, most of whom were probationary employees.
“President Trump understands the importance of supporting first responders, 9/11 survivors and Ground Zero rescue workers,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis tweeted late Friday afternoon.
The decision calmed fears that the crucial program would be crippled by harmful cuts.
“We appreciate the swift action by President Trump when he became aware of the impact that these cuts by DOGE would have had on health care of injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors,” said Benjamin Chevat, an advocate for 9/11 victims. “We hope that we can also count on the president’s support in the effort to fix the long-term budget problems facing the program.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer applauded the reinstatement of funding and the reversal of the job cuts, but derided the entire incident as an example of the “Trump-DOGE shoot first, ask questions later approach.”
Advocates and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say the cuts would have had a dramatically negative impact on the program’s ability to serve members, including big delays in getting coverage and care.
The health fund provides care to around 137,000 people who have been sickened from exposure to toxins during and after the terror attacks on the World Trade Center, as well as the hijacked plane crashes in Shanksville, Pa. and at the Pentagon.
The slashes to the program were planned as part of an ongoing effort to eliminate thousands of jobs and entire government agencies, which Trump and Musk say will save taxpayers billions of dollars.
But lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been pushing back when the cuts hit popular programs in their districts.
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