HHS says 120 staff slots approved for WTC Health Program

The Department of Health and Human Services told lawmakers in April that the World Trade Center Health Program is approved to fully staff 120 positions. The agency plans to reach that number by rehiring 37 employees.

This staffing plan follows a review by InvestigateTV earlier this year, which found that federal staffing cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency reduced the program's workforce. Critics stated that those cuts created a backlog of claims. Survivors reported delays in receiving medical screenings and cancer treatments.

The program provides medical coverage to individuals exposed to the World Trade Center site on September 11, 2001. Advocates for those survivors have questioned the pace of hiring. They argue that the current timeline leaves many applicants waiting for necessary care.

Separate reporting from the same broadcast examined the Mississippi River Delta. The delta covers roughly 2.7 million acres and holds the largest area of brackish marsh on the North American continent. These wetlands support fisheries and wildlife habitat. They also serve as a key flyway for migrating birds.

Louisiana's coast is described as one of the most rapidly sinking areas on the planet. The report noted that coastal wetlands supporting a web of wildlife are at risk of disappearing.

The broadcast also covered a drop in school bus drivers across the United States. The number of employed drivers fell from 223,252 in August 2019 to 202,076 in August 2025. That represents a nearly 10 percent decrease. Some parents said canceled or delayed bus routes are occurring too often.

In a final segment, seventh graders at Winneconne Middle School participated in a community project. Students in Susan Meunier's leadership class traced and painted portraits of pets to help animals get adopted.