Last week, 20 percent of the staff at the World Trade Center Health Program lost their jobs, prompting strong reactions from Democratic lawmakers. By Friday, Republican lawmakers also criticized the move.
While Elon Musk was growing his wealth in America, others were enduring unimaginable challenges. At the time, many Americans, including members of the military, were watching the tragic events of 9/11 unfold. As people watched in horror, first responders were already taking action. Like many others, they rushed toward the disaster, determined to help. For days, they worked tirelessly to search for survivors, clear debris, and breathe in the toxic dust from the collapsed towers, all while being told it was “safe.”
In 2008, first responders began working with lawmakers to bring attention to the health issues facing those who had helped in the aftermath of 9/11. They shared how the City of New York had abandoned these heroes, offering no health care or support. Lawmakers quickly recognized that this was an issue that needed immediate attention. From that point forward, first responders and their families continued their efforts to ensure that those who had risked everything would receive the care they deserved.
For the next 11 years, they worked relentlessly in Washington, making sure that their sacrifices were not forgotten. Their efforts ultimately led to the passing of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act and the renewal of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Even when certain senators blocked progress, first responders kept pushing, ensuring that those who had given so much received the care they were promised.
Now, Elon Musk believes that first responders should be denied the health care they need. Musk, along with President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has supported efforts to cut jobs at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). These cuts have weakened the system that manages the 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program, making it more difficult to process claims and provide care for those who were affected.
The job cuts at the CDC took away 20 percent of the federal workers responsible for verifying 9/11-related illnesses, preventing fraud, and continuing important research. This means thousands of firefighters, police officers, construction workers, and volunteers could face delays or denials in receiving care. For many, these delays could make the difference between life and death.
This is not the first time Musk, Trump, and others have targeted the health care of veterans, cutting jobs and threatening essential services. Their actions hurt not only sick 9/11 first responders but also disabled veterans, putting them at risk to score political points.
When Abraham Lincoln said, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan,” he likely never imagined a future where billionaires—many of whom were never elected—would be in control. Yet here we are, with some of the richest people in the world telling those who risked everything—who watched their friends suffer and die from terrorism, disease, and war—that they are no longer worth caring for.
