Overview
- A second wave of staffing cuts in April has eliminated 16 more positions, further undermining the program's ability to provide timely care to over 150,000 enrolled responders and survivors.
- Dr. John Howard, the program's longtime leader, has yet to be formally reinstated despite assurances from federal officials, leaving critical administrative functions in limbo.
- Patients are now facing six to eight-month waits for appointments, with some life-threatening conditions going untreated due to delayed certifications.
- Advocates report that three FDNY employees diagnosed with 9/11-related cancers were unable to secure treatment approvals this week, highlighting the program's operational challenges.
- The bipartisan funding bill HR 1410, aimed at addressing the program's financial shortfall, remains stalled in Congress, with no resolution in sight.