Feds plan to refill 9/11 health program after DOGE cuts
HHS says it will rehire 37 staff members to reach a 120-person workforce, though advocates remain skeptical of the timeline.
By Emily Lawson ·
The federal agency responsible for health benefits for September 11 survivors has outlined a plan to rebuild its workforce.
The Department of Health and Human Services told lawmakers in April that the World Trade Center Health Program has approval to staff up to 120 total positions.
This increase relies on the rehiring of 37 employees who were previously cut from the program.
Critics argue that the Department of Government Efficiency’s earlier staffing reductions created a hollowed-out operation.
They contend these cuts left a backlog of claims and forced survivors to wait longer for medical screenings and cancer treatments.
The Mississippi River Delta is facing its own structural challenges.
The region covers roughly 2.7 million acres and includes the largest area of brackish marsh on the North American continent.
While the wetlands support diverse wildlife and serve as a bird flyway, the Louisiana coast is among the fastest sinking landscapes on Earth.
School districts are also grappling with a shrinking pool of transportation staff.
The number of school bus drivers in the U.S. dropped from 223,252 in August 2019 to 202,076 in August 2025.
That represents a nearly 10% decline over six years, leading some parents to report frequent delays or cancellations of bus routes.
In Winneconne, Wisconsin, seventh graders are participating in a community art project to boost animal adoptions.
Source: KTVK
