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

[UpInArms]

Source: Marketwatch

As the nation marks the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a bombshell 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.”

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

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Grifter gotta grift.

[turbinetree]

1. While a lot of us lost our jobs in the airline industry ...................this asshole wanted to

make a buck.....................and then this asshole goes to Shanksville, PA to say some BS lunatic lies, at the site of the plane crash (United 93), that I and others worked on that night and saw the crew off in the morning Liberty Airport ( New Jersey)...............

[iluvtennis]

2. There is no low for trump/his admin. nt

[bronxiteforever]

3. Kick and recommend for visibility. Someone should

go to jail for this.

[Bengus81]

5. KICK.....52 more days of waiting for the election

[John Drake]

4. Somebody better correct this report!

It makes it erroneously look like it started under a previous administration.

From the article,

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

I'm sure that has to be wrong!

[Wicked Blue]

6. There is no epithet or profanity strong enough

to describe such base, low, vile thievery.

The same, of course, could be said about so many other things Benedict Donald has done.

[bronxiteforever]

7. +100 Absolutely

[dalton99a]

8. Kick

[mpcamb]

9. Thieving from the Widows and Orphan's Fund... no depth too low.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

10. It's NIOSH, but MarketWatch will figure that out eventually.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/index.htm

[crickets]

11. So... where did that money go?

Where's the paperwork? There's paperwork with a signature on it somewhere.

[Illumination]

12. What's amazing about this piece of sh** is that he always has a line of b.s. for everything!

Quite the criminal mind that MUST be stopped & locked up for our national security!...

[Faux pas]

13. Kickin' with disgust!

[Delmette2.0]

14. I thought all the funding was approved.

Damn, Jon Stewart was practically in tears testifying at a House Committtee. One responder appeared and spoke to the committee only to die the next week. WTF!!

[Judi Lynn]

15. Leaving no stone unpillaged. Thanks for this information, UpInArms. n/t