In a Senate hearing Wednesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. conceded that staffing cuts at the World Trade Center Health Program were a “mistake,” according to Spectrum News.
The program, which provides care to 9/11 survivors and first responders, had halted new patient enrollments after abrupt staffing changes. Though Kennedy said the program would continue, critics blasted the instability, citing missed care and a lack of transparency.
Advocates and lawmakers warned that Kennedy’s leadership has left the program in disarray, with one rescue worker calling him unfit for the role. Others demanded a full restoration of staffing to ensure consistent care for the 140,000 individuals the program is meant to serve.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].