Overview

• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has formally reinstated Dr. John Howard as administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program, enabling the resumption of new enrollments, certifications, and treatment approvals.
• The program, which serves over 150,000 9/11 responders and survivors, had been disrupted by leadership removal and staff cuts earlier this year, leading to delays in life-saving care for critically ill patients.
• Despite the restoration of services, the program faces significant funding shortfalls due to rising medical costs and increased enrollment, with a bipartisan bill to address the gap stalled in Congress.
• Advocates and medical professionals report ongoing challenges, including delayed approvals for treatments like chemotherapy and lung transplants, with some patients in critical condition unable to access timely care.
• The program, mandated to operate through 2090, has historically delivered superior survival outcomes for enrollees but remains at risk of further disruption without long-term funding and staffing solutions.