Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Trump & DOGE’s Un-American And Insulting Cuts To The 9/11 Survivor Healthcare Program

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor condemning President Trump, Secretary Kennedy and DOGE’s decision to slash funding for the World Trade Center Health Program, which supports 9/11 first responders, survivors, and their families, and urged the administration to reverse these harmful cuts. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

I want to highlight a particularly profane example of how Donald Trump and DOGE are taking a meat axe to public services – the 9/11 Survivor Health Program.

I would have thought some things would have been out of bounds for Donald Trump and DOGE, like axing services to 9/11 families. Sadly, I was wrong.

Because last week, Donald Trump slashed the workforce for the World Trade Center Health Program, which I helped create years ago to support our 9/11 first responders, survivors, and families.

Apparently, serving 9/11 families – those who have been hurt by 9/11, who have lost loved ones in 9/11 – is just more wasteful spending in the eyes of Donald Trump and DOGE. It’s utterly disgusting.

Because of these barbaric cuts, 9/11 families, including sick first responders and survivors, will now face longer wait times to receive often desperately needed care.

Families will worry more about whether or not their loved ones will be able to afford life-saving treatment.

Donald Trump and DOGE’s decision to cut funding for the heroes of 9/11 is outrageous. It’s un-American. It’s insulting to every 9/11 first responder, survivor, and family.

So, today, I sent a letter with Senator Gillibrand to Secretary Kennedy urging him to immediately reverse the cuts that impacted the World Trade Center Health Program.

Donald Trump, Secretary Kennedy, and DOGE have betrayed our sacred promise to “Never Forget.”

And what is the point of these cruel cuts? So Donald Trump and DOGE can give their billionaire buddies a tax break and have the 9/11 families pay the cost.

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