Trump administration secretly took $4M from FDNY 9/11 health program
President Donald Trump's administration has secretly taken about $4 million away from a program that helps New York City Fire Department firefighters and medics with illnesses and health consequences related to the 9/11 attacks, according to the New York Daily News.
The program's director, Dr. David Prezant, said that the program was docked about half a million dollars in 2016 and 2017 before the program was docked $630,000 in 2018 and 2019. So far, the Treasury has diverted nearly $1.5 million this calendar year as of the end of August.
Prezant said the payments disappeared without any notification.
"The Treasury Department mysteriously started withholding parts of payments — nearly four years ago — meant to cover medical services for firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics treated by the FDNY World Trade Center Health Program," said the New York Daily News.
Long Island Republican Rep. Pete King had some harsh words for the program's treatment.
“I don’t even care what the details of this thing is. That fund has to be fully compensated, fully reimbursed. I mean, this is absurd,” King said via the New York Daily News. “If anyone were true American heroes, it was the cops and firemen on 9/11, especially the firemen, and for even $1 to be being held back is absolutely indefensible.”
This news comes after numerous reports about Donald Trump disparaging soldiers and not supporting true American heroes.
At this point, it is obvious. Trump does not care about America and the heroes who have built America into one of the greatest societies humanity has ever seen. Trump only cares about himself.
The Treasury Department and the White House have yet to publicly comment on the situation.
After the FDNY helped save Trump's own property a few years ago, Trump and his cronies have shown a blatant and indefensible lack of respect in return.
About Ryan Lipton: Ryan is a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in Business Journalism. He has written in the past for SB Nation's Silver and Black Pride, USA Today Sports Media Group, North Carolina Business News Wire, the Daily Tar Heel, and has worked with Ice Cube's BIG3 basketball league. For more of Ryan Lipton's articles click here.