WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday signed a bill ensuring that a victims’ compensation fund related to the Sept. 11 attacks never runs out of money.“You inspire all of humanity,” Trump said of the “true American warriors” who rushed to help victims on the day of the attacks and searched for remains for months after.The $7.4 billion fund had been rapidly depleting, and administrators recently cut benefit payments by up to 70%.
Trump also stated on the attacks on the World Trade Center. “I was down there also, but I’m not considering myself a first responder.” The bill passed Congress on a bipartisan basis, but only after delays by some Republicans exposed the legislative branch to withering criticism from activists including comedian Jon Stewart.
More than 40,000 people have applied to the fund, which covers illnesses potentially related to being at the World Trade Center site, the Pentagon or Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after the attacks.