DOGE's Controversial Decision
NEW YORK — News that the Trump administration canceled a $257,000 federal contract for research on 9/11-related diseases drew widespread condemnation Thursday among New York Democrats.
The contract would have paid for data processing work to compare cancer incidence rates among firefighters exposed to the World Trade Center toxins to firefighters in three other U.S. cities who were not exposed.
Reactions and Criticisms
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres, who is considering a campaign for governor, zeroed in on the role of tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Governmental Efficiency apparatus.
Last year, the number of FDNY firefighters who have died from 9/11-related illnesses surpassed the number who died on the day of the terror attacks.
Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan chimed in: “Any response yet Donald & Elon?”
Consequences and Concerns
Spokespeople for DOGE and the CDC did not respond to requests for comment.
City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is running for mayor, wrote on X that 9/11 responders are “heroes, not Elon Musk’s political pawns.” Another mayoral candidate, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, called the news “reprehensible.”
Oren Barzilay, president of the union FDNY EMS Local 2507, said yanking the funds is a “detrimental decision.”
“Thousands of FDNY EMTs and firefighters responded that day and hundreds are dealing with 9/11 illnesses and diseases still being discovered over 20 years later,” he said in a statement Thursday. “Taking away research benefiting their health is severe and un-American to a community that we promise every day to never forget.”
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