The New York Daily News reports that the federal Treasury Department has skimmed millions in funds designated for tracking and treatment of 9/11 first responders.
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, documents obtained by The News reveal.
The payments were authorized and made by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which oversees the program. But instead of sending the funds to the city, the Treasury started keeping some of the money.
“This was just disappearing,” the program’s director, Dr. David Prezant, told The News. “This is the most amazing thing. This was disappearing — without any notification.”
Prezant said he was docked about half a million dollars each year in 2016 and 2017. Then it crept up to about $630,000 in 2018 and 2019. This year, Treasury has nearly tripled its extractions, diverting $1.447 million through late August, according to Prezant.
“Here we have sick World Trade Center-exposed firefighters and EMS workers, at a time when the city is having difficult financial circumstances due to COVID-19, and we’re not getting the money we need to be able to treat these heroes,” said Prezant, the FDNY’s Chief Medical Officer.
“And for years, they wouldn’t even tell us — we never ever received a letter telling us this,” he explained.
4 comments:
Jeez, how else is Mnuchin supposed to keep up his lifestyle on a government salary? That trophy wife needs maintenance, then there's the pool, and the pool boy. You people have no idea how tough it is!
Cap
Somehow Trump's supporters will rationalize this.
NY Rep King and Dem Sen Schumer were planning to take Mnuchin to the woodshed today as he was sent by Trump to the New York City memorial event. Having had a look at Mrs. Mnuchin and her husband she might already have a stable of pool boys, Cap. Apparently that is the accessory this season.
Well, Toby, both Hannity and the Wall Street Journal editorial board managed to turn Trump's disgrace over concealing the Covid risk into a fine specimen of presidential leadership. Trump could open his own crematorium and they would praise the excellent brickwork.
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