Kennedy restores staffing at 9/11 health program

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. approved hiring for 37 positions at the World Trade Center Health Program, raising staff from 83 to the federally authorized 120, and the decision comes as he prepares for Capitol Hill testimony.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has approved hiring for 37 long-vacant positions at the World Trade Center Health Program as he prepares to testify on Capitol Hill. The approval raises program staffing from about 83 employees to the federally authorized level of 120. The program serves roughly 140,000 responders and survivors who have been diagnosed with cancer, respiratory disease and other conditions tied to exposure after the 9/11 attacks. The program was created under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act and has operated below capacity amid a period of firings, rehires and leadership shifts while enrollee numbers grew by about 30,000. Key details: - An email from the HHS secretary approved hiring for 37 vacant positions, increasing staff to the authorized 120. - Advocates and lawmakers have said staffing shortages slowed approvals, contractor management and access to care for program enrollees. - The program serves about 140,000 responders and survivors with conditions tied to 9/11 exposures. - Decisions on adding coverage for conditions such as autoimmune, cardiac and cognitive disorders remain pending within HHS. - Research funding for the program, including an expected annual grant cycle of roughly $20 million, has not yet been approved and is reported as stalled. - Advocates and some lawmakers credited bipartisan pressure for the change and said the timing coincides with Kennedy's scheduled congressional testimony. Summary: Restoring the vacant positions removes one of the most visible criticisms of HHS oversight of the World Trade Center Health Program ahead of Secretary Kennedy's Capitol Hill appearance. Lawmakers are likely to raise remaining concerns during hearings, including pending coverage decisions and the status of research funding. Undetermined at this time is how quickly new staff will be hired and how quickly pending petitions and program decisions will move forward.