Advocates for the 9/11 community are warning of staffing cuts at a federal program that helps first responders and others sickened by toxic smoke and debris receive medical help. 

As the Trump White House continues to slash the federal government, advocates say the World Trade Center Health Program has seen a staffing reduction of 20% — a combination of layoffs and buyouts. That cut, they warn, will undermine efforts to help patients and certify their ability to receive treatment. 

“There was always a backlog, but it was getting better, and now it's going to create a bigger backlog,” John Feal, a 9/11 responder and advocate, said.

“It lacks empathy, it lacks humanity … it’s repulsive,” he said. “We're talking about people sick and dying that are going to get sicker and die.”

One of those fired is Anthony Gardner, who received a termination notice on Saturday evening. 

“The program was already bare bones,” he told Spectrum News in an interview. “We were already short-staffed to do the vital work that we do every day, to care for our members and to get new members enrolled.”

The termination notice claimed Gardner’s “performance has not been adequate to justify further employment.” Gardner says that is inaccurate, noting that all of his performance reviews have been “the top ratings.”

Gardner’s older brother, Harvey, died on 9/11 at age 35. He was working in the North Tower. 

(Photo courtesy of Anthony Gardner)

In the years since, Anthony has sought to preserve Harvey’s memory, first by working for the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and the Victim Compensation Fund, and most recently for the World Trade Center Health Program. 

“I want to just make him proud, and that's why I've spent the last couple of decades trying to honor him,” he said. “I would go back tomorrow, if I'm reinstated, as I know my colleagues would.”

“We believe in the work that we do,” he added.

New York’s two Democratic U.S. senators have criticized the staffing cuts.

In a joint statement, Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote, “The Trump administration must come clean with whatever dirty deal they have planned for a health fund that should be about taking care of our 9/11 heroes—nothing more, nothing less.”

Long Island Republican Congressman Andrew Garbarino, in a statement, said, “I have emphasized to the White House how critical this program is and will continue advocating for the support it requires.”

Spectrum News reached out to the Trump White House about the staffing reductions. They did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.

The staffing cuts come just months after the World Trade Center Health Program faced another blow. 

In December, an early draft of a must-pass government spending bill included a plan to provide long-term federal funding for the program. However, that bill was torpedoed by then-President-elect Donald Trump and his billionaire advisor Elon Musk, and the provision was stripped from the legislation that ultimately passed.