2020: Trump administration siphoned almost $4 million from 9/11 first responders fund: report

[CousinIT]

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-administration-siphoned-almost-4-million-from-911-first-responders-fund-report-2020-09-11

As the nation marks the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a new report accuses the Trump administration of siphoning almost $4 million away from a fund supporting the 9/11 first responders.

The Treasury Department began withholding parts of payments intended to cover medical services for firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians suffering 9/11-related illnesses, according to documents obtained by the New York Daily News. These first responders who inhaled smoke and dust at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the terrorist attack, which killed almost 3,000 Americans, have suffered illnesses including cancers and systemic autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, in the almost two decades since.

The National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOHS) oversees the FDNY World Trade Center Health Program. The Daily News reports that the Treasury started keeping some of the money earmarked for this program — to the tune of about half a million dollars each year in 2016 and 2017, and $630,000 each year in 2018 and 2019. And the Treasury has nearly tripled these extractions this year, withholding $1.447 million through late August, according to Dr. David Prezant, the program director.

“This was disappearing — without any notification,” Prezant, who is also the FDNY’s Chief Medical Officer, told the Daily News. “Here we have sick World Trade Center-exposed firefighters and EMS workers, at a time when the city is having difficult financial circumstances due to COVID-19, and we’re not getting the money we need to be able to treat these heroes.”

Adding insult to injury was that they weren’t given a heads-up about any cuts, he said. “And for years, they wouldn’t even tell us — we never ever received a letter telling us this,” he said.

[Hekate]

1. Evil, evil, evil. Where did the money go? Whose pockets were lined while people suffered & died?

[Hortensis]

7. Seemingly diverted to cover delinquent Medicare debt by other NY agencies. nt

[lamp_shade]

2. Article is from Sept. 2020 nt

[gab13by13]

8. More evidence that no one is ever held accountable.

[sakabatou]

3. This doesn't surprise me

[FirefighterJo]

4. I really don't understand the US

I lived for a while in Tennessee, so i guess i can make a voice. Why ? How ? If in Europe, people spread dangerous lies, they are kept accountable. Fuck News has no ground in Europe and for good reason. How is it possible that liers in america face no conséquences

[Cobalt Violet]

5. we have freedumb.

[Hortensis]

9. Understanding requires information/knowledge tho. As for spreading

misunderstanding, are people in Europe who get a wrong idea on the internet and spread it around really held accountable?

This was roughly a year ago. Have we learned more since about what this money was reallocated for? I need to try better search terms because it looks like this initial reporting failed to expose a scandal, so it was probably continued as a more dense and less interesting budget conflict and misappropriation. (If tRump got his hands on any of it, it certainly wouldn't have gone to pay Medicare bills)

“Treasury adhered to its statutory obligations established by Congress regarding debts owed by New York, but we are also working with Congressman King and others to examine any potential authorities to provide relief in this case to support our nation’s 9/11 heroes.” Also a year ago.

[Skittles]

12. I don't understand this either

why aren't they being sued to hell and back???

[bronxiteforever]

10. Kick and recommend for visibility

[LetMyPeopleVote]

11. Who is surprised by this?

TFG hates our first responders and heroes