Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. admitted Wednesday that cuts made to a program providing health care to 9/11 victims were a “mistake.”
Advocates have warned that the wave of firings and then re-hirings at the federally funded World Trade Center Health Program have undermined patient health. The program works with 9/11 victims and first responders suffering from illnesses tied, for example, to their exposure to the toxic smoke and debris.
Kennedy made the remark during a U.S. Senate committee hearing.
Asked by New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim why the cuts were made in the first place, Kennedy said it was “part of the overall budget cuts” across the federal government.
“We tried to be as careful as we can about what we cut and what we didn't. We made a couple of mistakes,” he added. “That was one.”
Kim replied, “I don't think you were trying to be as careful as you can. I mean, that's the problem that we've seen by rushing these decisions.”
Since the start of the Trump administration, the World Trade Center Health Program has been subject to a series of shakeups, with staff members cut and then restored on more than one occasion.
Lawmakers and 9/11 community advocates warn the upheaval has left patients in limbo.
“We know the World Trade Center Health program stopped approving new cases. It stopped enrolling new patients, and it had to turn at least three sick patients away,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said at a press conference Tuesday ahead of Kennedy’s testimony.
“HHS reversed course again and began approving new enrollments, and those patients are now receiving care,” Gillibrand continued. “But again, for how long?”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described the program as facing “total chaos.”
Sen. @gillibrandny says 9-11 victims and first responders are facing “a secretary —RFK, Jr. — who is unfortunately tormenting them once again.”
— Kevin Frey (@KevinFreyTV) May 13, 2025
The World Trade Center Health Program has faced “total chaos,” says @SenSchumer, amid staffing cuts, rehirings, cuts again, etc. pic.twitter.com/oGm25S0FDm
Some advocates have directed their frustration at Kennedy, arguing he is uniquely unqualified to lead HHS.
“What an incompetent, arrogant, dumb, stupid, repulsive fool to recklessly — recklessly — without any humanity hurt 140,000 people,” said John Feal, who worked on rescue and recovery efforts in Lower Manhattan shortly after the towers fell.
Part of the frustration stems from what advocates say is a lack of transparency from HHS about the status of the program and its future.
Pressed by Kim Wednesday, Kennedy said the program “will continue.”
Asked if that meant the program will operate at the “full strength” of where it was before he became secretary, Kennedy replied, “The program itself will continue.”
After Kennedy’s testimony wrapped up, Spectrum News checked in with some 9/11 community advocates.
Feal argued the hearing validated his belief that Kennedy was not up for the job.
“Sec. Kennedy owes 140,000 people and their families an apology for the anguish and pain he inflicted with reckless stupidity,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ben Chevat, who serves as executive director of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, said in a statement, “We have the first public acknowledgement from Secretary Kennedy that the cuts to the staff … were a ‘mistake.’ Now they need to make sure that the staff is brought up to its full strength so it can do its job of treating 9/11 responders and survivors.”