As the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks approaches, a renewed focus is being placed on the health consequences faced by those exposed to the aftermath of the World Trade Center’s collapse.
Funding Secured for WTC Health Program
The World Trade Center Health Program, authorized through 2090, will now have sufficient funding to care for its 140,000 enrolled members. This funding, part of a larger federal budget passed by Congress and signed by President Trump, includes a 7% annual inflation adjustment through 2040, ensuring continued healthcare access for survivors, and responders.
Simultaneously, efforts to uncover information regarding the city’s knowledge of health risks at Ground Zero are gaining momentum. Previous mayors had resisted requests from Congress to release WTC-related files, seeking immunity from lawsuits in return.
City Records and Legal Challenges
Despite a $350 million cap on legal liability established by Congress in November 2001, and the existence of the World Trade Center Captive Insurance Company—funded by the federal government—previous mayors refused to release the records. Those who received compensation from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, administered by the Department of Justice, are barred from filing lawsuits.
Following denied Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests filed by Ben Chevat of 9/11 Health Watch, legal action was pursued by his pro bono attorneys, Andrew Carboy and Matt McCauley. The City Council then directed the Department of Investigation to produce a report on the withheld records.
The Department of Environmental Protection subsequently provided some records, though these were largely insignificant. However, a memo from the assistant chief of the Law Department’s World Trade Center Unit—created in the fall of 2002—was discovered within those documents, indicating the Law Department has possessed relevant information for decades.
Another memo, written weeks after 9/11 to then-Deputy Mayor Bob Harding, warned of potential lawsuits. This memo was referenced in the 2006 book “Grand Illusion: The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani and 9/11” and a copy was recently located in the papers of the book’s author, Wayne Barrett, at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin.
New Leadership and Future Actions
Steve Banks, recently confirmed as corporation counsel by the City Council, has pledged transparency regarding the WTC files, promising to publish them with redactions limited to personal information. Nadia Shihata has been nominated by Mayor Mamdani to be the new DOI commissioner.
The City Council is also urging full funding for the Department of Investigation to complete its report on the city’s knowledge and actions concerning the lingering environmental and health hazards related to the WTC attacks. Shihata is expected to commit to completing this report during her upcoming confirmation hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the status of funding for the World Trade Center Health Program?
The program will now have sufficient funding to care for its 140,000 enrolled members, including a 7% annual inflation adjustment through 2040.
What action did the City Council seize regarding the WTC records?
The City Council ordered the Department of Investigation to produce a report on the hidden WTC records.
What did a memo to Deputy Mayor Bob Harding state?
The memo, written weeks after 9/11, stated that there could be a great many lawsuits.
As investigations continue and new leadership takes the helm, will the full extent of the city’s knowledge regarding the health risks at Ground Zero finally be revealed?
