HHS Plans to Restore 37 Staff Positions for 9/11 Health Program

Survivors of the September 11 attacks are facing reduced access to medical care as federal staffing levels for the World Trade Center Health Program remain below full capacity. The Department of Health and Human Services told lawmakers in April that the agency has received approval to fill 120 total positions. This includes rehiring 37 employees who were previously let go.

Advocates for the program argue that the pace of hiring is too slow to address the current workload. They point to a backlog of claims that accumulated after the Department of Government Efficiency implemented staff cuts earlier in the year. Critics state that these cuts forced patients to wait longer for essential medical screenings and cancer treatments.

The program was created to treat individuals dealing with serious health issues linked to the 2001 attacks. The recent staffing changes have raised concerns about the program's ability to process new applications and maintain existing patient care. Lawmakers have been briefed on the plan to restore the workforce to its approved level.

The rehire initiative aims to close the gap between the current number of staff and the authorized 120 positions. Until the new employees are onboarded, the agency continues to manage a high volume of pending cases. The specific timeline for when the 37 new staff members will begin their duties has not been detailed in the recent communications to Congress.

This development follows an earlier examination of the program's operational challenges. The focus has shifted from the initial cuts to the logistics of rebuilding the team. The department has confirmed that the budget exists to support the additional personnel.