NEW YORK—A group of sick and injured World Trade Center responders, members of Congress, and the governor are up in arms over the departure of a federally appointed bureaucrat.
As the final date for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Director John Howard’s departure draws near, the chorus of voices calling for his reappointment is growing.
At the heart of the controversy is the shock over Howard’s departure after six years of serving as the director of NIOSH. He has been lauded for his federally funded health plans for workers claiming to suffer illness after the 9/11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center site.
Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) gathered at the site of the World Trade Centers on July 8 to demand the return of Howard, whose current term is set to end on July 14.
“One of the few Administration officials working on 9/11 health issues has been fired,” said Nadler.
Howard’s policies have been known to clash with the Bush administration’s worker’s health plan. The conflict is rumored to be a main reason for his sudden departure, and inquiries have been made by organizations such as the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) over the issue.
“Dr. John Howard has been instrumental in unleashing a wealth of talent at NIOSH and helping bring together the research and educational resources of NIOSH,” wrote the ASSE in a statement. “We do not know why such a highly competent leader and administrator of an agency…should not be reappointed.”
In the press conference at the WTC site, both Nadler and Maloney raised similar questions and lambasted the Bush administration’s role in terminating Howard’s position.
“The Bush Administration—and in particular the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—has made a grave mistake in its decision not to reappoint Dr. Howard,” said Nadler, who accuses the president of refusing to take action in health issues involving 9/11 initial responders.
In a separate letter written on Tuesday to the Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Services, New York senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton raised similar questions.
“Failing to maintain [Howard’s] leadership at NIOSH will unnecessarily jeopardize the currently existing 9/11 health programs,” stated the letter.
In a public statement announcing Howard’s departure as director, CDC director Julie Gerberding said there will be a temporary replacement until a new director is located. The statement however, fails to offer any further explanation.
Advocates for 9/11 health plans fear that Howard’s departure may jeopardize future funding for treatment of sick workers.
