In mid-December, collective sighs of relief were heard throughout the fire, rescue and EMS community.
That's the day former President Joe Biden signed the law that not only reauthotized the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer but boosted funding from $2.5 million to $5.5 million annually
Emergency responders' united effort to educate lawmakers about the importance of the registry -- to study and reduce firefighter cancers
But, that feeling of accomplishment was short-lived.
In February, Trump fired NIOSH employees, the NCR administrators.
The registry is now offline. However, the website still shows data collected from firefighters across the country.
IAFF General President Edwaard Kelly reahed out to White House officials Wednesday about the cuts and urged the "administration to fully restore these vital programs."
Kelly called the conversation productive.
"They assured me that efforts are underway to reverse the recent cuts. Krlly wrote in a statement adding he appreciated his call being answered.
He said the IAFF will be monitoring the situation "to ensure the well-being of fire fighters nationwide."
Susan Nicol | News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.
